SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 39, 9 November 1918, Page 12

SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL SESSIONS PRISONERS SENTENCED. AVillifini Prince and Joseph Keyes, found guilty of receiving, were brought; up for sentence. > Before sentence was passed. Mr. Jackson pleaded stiougly for leniency. Both men had served some two and a half years at tlit- front, Keyes being awarded a Military Medal. The real criminal was the man AA'illiams, who had been convicted previously for several offences. Keyes would lose his pension on conviction. ' • His Honour regretted that ho must sentence Keyes. He was sorry to state that there were too many returned soldiers nppearmg before the Court. Ho would take into consideration his service in tho Army, and would sentence him to six months' imprisonment with hnrd labour. In sentencing Prince ho would extend the utmost leniency, and admit him to two y.iais'. probation on the condition of good behaviour. Wilii.'iin Henry Cardew, found guilty of'indecent assault, was sentenced to five yciiw' imprisonment with hard labour. Cyril Victor Barker, remanded for sentence from Motueka. on a charge of houseL-ieakinj; and theft, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour. ' ALLEGED SEXUAL CRIME. James Pridmore, a married man> was indicted on two charges of unlawfully carnally knowing a girl.between the ages of 14 ana 16. Represented by Mr. M. Myers, accused plciiued not guilty to'-both charges. Mr. Jiyeft, for the defence, submitted that the evidence of the complainant was tiie sol': evidence tendered to tho jury upon which they could possibly convict. There was no corroboration of her evidence. Moreover her ovidence had been inconsistent with that she gave in the Lower Court. Accused, his wife, a former employer of the complainant, were called by tho defence. In addressing the jury Mr. Myers- commented otrongiy upon tne evidence of the girl. Mr. Prendeville, in ,- his address, admitted that the girl had been shaken in some details, but submitted that the story of the girl in the main had been corroborated byi the evidence of her mother. His Honour said "that the question for the jury was whether the girl told the truth or not. Tho'case against accused depended upon the rejection or acceptance of the girl's story, which was not wholly uncorroborated. Nevertheless such conoboratiori would be of no value unless the girl's ■ story was believed. There seemed no motive for the alleged offence. After a short retirement the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. The jury added u rider to the effect that the law stipulating that information in such cases must be laid , in six months be extended. CARNAL ICNOAVLEDGE. Jamei M'Clatchie, found guilty of carnal knowledge of a girl aged 14 years and eight months, was _ sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment with iiard labour. In passing sentence His Honour said he would give every consideration -to the fact of accused's service in tho war. Yet the girt was very much under sixteen, the age of consent. The law protected girls, .uuder. that age, even if of bad character. The Court then adjourned till 10 a.m. this morning. nun (iPWinNS Lit ill oCiooluliu , HEARINGS FIXED. The following fixtures have been made in connectiou with the civil sittings:— November 13.—Kearney v. Munt, Cottrell nnd Co.; i'V AV. H. Coley v. J. I'. G. lioburlt/ November 14.—Alexander Hoss Beatty v. Nellie I'lunice Beatty and Donald M'Kenzie (ii. divorce); Arthur Smith v. Mary-Helena. Smith (fu divorce). ' November 15.— J. H. Ratelitfe v. Davidson nnd Co.;' George .Eraser y. Cecilia. Maud Eraser (in divorce). November 16.—Undefended divorce cases. November 18.— T. D. Knox v. the Paramount Theatre Proprietary, Ltd., claims of i-750,, damages for an, accident; A. H. Griersoi.. v.. Dr. H. T. J. Thacker, claimine .£SOOO damages for alleged libel. November 19.— W. M. Bannatyno and Co. v./E. B. Christensen, claim of .£201)0 damages for alleged negligence; Harris. Grand v, Diinond and Hart. November 20.—Bourke and Bourke, England v England, and remaining undefended divorco cases. n November 21.—The. King v. O'Sullivan; N. P. Phillips' v. V. Hulse, claims of ;E432 damages for alleged breach of contract. .

November 22.-H. S. Irvine and an : other v. H. Spear, claims of .£304 12s. 9d. for work done; L.' S. Preston y. R. H. Dillon, Claims for specific performance and ,£IOO damages.

November 25.—1\ A. Hadley v. G. AV. Minter ant l another, claims for ,£2Bl Us. Gd. in respect of a promissory note. November 26—Prentice v. Smith, originating summoue.