TIMARU SUPREME COURT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 18 September 1901, Page 3

TIMARU SUPREME COURT.

(pan press association),

Timaru, Sept. 17. The Supreme Court criminal sessions commenced and concluded to-day. Three of the four accused pleaded guilty. In the fourth case, a farmer charged with making a false declaration under the Lands for Settlement Act on becoming an applicant for lease in perpetuity allotment, the falaicy relating to a quantity of land he already held. A two fold defence was offered that he did not understand the requirement of the form supplied, and that he had parted with the excess land. The documents were produced to prove that he had parted with the land to a brother-in-law, but the prosecution and Judge Deuniston, in summing up, indicated to the jury that this was a sham arrangement, to be carried out, if the accused was the successful applicant. He was successful, but the Land Board, learning that he bad an excess of land refused the lease and forfeited the deposit of £42. The jury found the prisoner guilty and recommended him to mercy, as he did not know the seriousness at the offence, and on account of bis good character. As to the latter the julge remarked, many men who will not cheat their neighbours, think little of trying to cheat the Government. He imposed a fine of £2O. A decree nisi was granted in the divorce case, Bachop v. Bachop, a husband’s petition.