DUNEDINS SUPREME COURT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1030, 13 January 1882, Page 2

DUNEDINS SUPREME COURT.

I The annual sittings of the Dunedin Supreme Court opened on January 5, before His Honor Mr Justine Williams. Fourteen true bills were returned. No bills were returned against John Stewart, larceny as a bailee ; W. Gawn, grocer (23), assault ; and Mary Ann Weston (36), manslaughter. Mary Ann Weston was formally arraigned His Honor saying it was not customary where no bill was presented to call any evidence. The woman then pleaded not guilty, and the common jury, by His Honor’s direction, immediately returned a verdict of “ Not Guilty,” and she was discharged.

Henry Vincent (29) glass-stainor pleaded guilty to two charges of forgery, and was sent to gaol for two years. Robert Smith (47), blacksmith, charged with attempting to commit a rape upon Elizabeth Smith, aged S, pleaded guilty, aud was sentenced to four years penal servitude.

Mary Llyoil (16), pleaded guilty to stealing a quantity of valuable jewellery. His Honor passed a sentence of two months imprisonment, saying he would not impose hard labor so that prisoner might not be contaminated by evil intercourse, and might have a better chance of a fair start on her release.

John Johnson (23), a spamau pleaded not guilty to a charge of horse-stealing; the jury returned a verdict of “Not Guilty.” and the prisoner was acquitted. John Strain was indicted upon two charges of stealing money. On one charge he was found “Not Guilty ” and the other was adjourned. Charles Vickers, for burglary, was sent to gaol for three months, with hard labor. John Dupree, ex-constable, charged with stealing fowls, was sentenced to two years with hard labor.

James Wilson (17), laborer, was charged with stealing from a dwelling. Has been sentenced to two years hard labor. Frank Thompson, alias Lampsou White, alias Hartness alias John Harboard Parker, charged with robbery from guests at Watson’s hotel, Dunedin, received six years penal servitude. Mrs Byron and her son were convicted of shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and each sentenced to two months with hard labor,

BURGLARY, Before Mr Justice Williams and a common jury James Hogan was charged with having, at 1 a.m. on October 26, broken into the hotel of Charles MTCeuna, at Cromwell, with intent to commit a felony. The prisoner pleaded Not guilty, and was not defended by counsel. From the evidence it appeared that on tho night in question Mary M’Kenua heard someone breaking into the house. She roused her sister, Miss Mnlholland,and Mr Rivers, and on going below they found the prisoner trying to hide behind the curtain. Mrs M'Kenna left to get assistance and aslked Rivers to detain the prisoner ; but after a struggle the prisoner escaped through the window, leaving his coat in Mr Rivers’hands and his hat in the room. Subsequently the prisoner called .at a farmhouse without his coat, and having wounds which were noticed, and on ibeing arrested the scars and-scratches were visible. The Jury, after 20 minutes’ retirement, :found the-prisoner guilty of the charge. Prisoner, on being - called-upon, said that while under the influence of drink he was ■unable to control himself. This was not the ifirst occasion that such had been proved to he the-case, but it was remarkable that he i never removed any goods when in such a, -state.

-His Honor: The jury have found -you guilty of the crime, and what you are now saying-is no answer to the question, What have to say why sentence should not be passed upon you? >ls anything known - against the prisoner. Mr Haggitt: He was discharged from gaol on October Bth—the very month in ■which-this crime was committed,—after serving 12 months for a very similar offence. His Honor: I have no doubt the verdict -of the Jury was a correct one in this case, .prisoner, You seem to have done very -much the same thing before, and the mom- - ent you come of gaol you repeat the offence •which you-have before committed. 1 can.not treat this as a first offence. The sentence of the Court is that you he kept to .penal servitude in the Colony of New Zealand for the term of three -years.