SUPREME COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 891, 14 May 1903, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

ANN MILLS’ PERJURY,

By Telegraph—Press Association. Nupior, limt night.

At tho Supremo Gouts to day Alary Aim Mills wa.i convicted or perjury, and was admitted to I'd months’ probation and ordorod to pay TlO 10s costs. Encka to lie, fur indecent assault, received IS m mths ; Atua Em a ilahopa and Piucaha, fur sheep-stealing, wore admitted to six uij.hlh’ probation. i’iripi Hakanui, for a similar offence, was ordered to come up for sentunce when called upon.

A SHOCKING OFFENCE AND A TECHNICAL PL LA.

By Telegraph—Press Association

Napier, las* ui^ht. Lator.—At tlio Supremo Court 10-udj’ Charles Percy Ingram was found not guilty on a charge of wounding a horso, and Thom as Hanson, a youth of 17 years of ago, was found not guilty on a chargo of horse-stealing. Henry Stanley was, by direction of tho Chief Justice, found guilty on his own admission of incest on his adopted daughter at Hastings on 18th April, 1902. Asa rosult of tho offence tho girl had a child in January last. No evidence was called for the defence, oounsol submitting that thero was no cue to go to tho jury, on tho ground that there could ho no incest where thoro was no blood relationship. He argued that although tho Adoption of Infants Act made an adopted child tho samo as tiio adopted parents’ own child, thoro wero two exceptions in which such was not the ease. Tho crimo of incest had boon unknown to tho New Zealand law prior to 1900, aud therefore when tho Infants Adoption Act, 1881, was passed such an offence could not havo boon contemplated. He submitted on tho authority of the King v. Miunis that tho crime of incest rested wholly on the question of consanguinity. His Honor said tho point raised was certainly worth considering, but ho was not prepared to dismiss tho case, aud would rosorvo it for tho Court of Appeal.

By Telegraph—Press Association,

Christchurch, last night.

At the criminal sessions this morning William Webb pleaded guilty to breaking into Benjamin and Co.’s warehouse on the night of April 17th, stealing a number of articles, and sontcuco was deferred till the afternoon. Frederick McAlister, alleged to havo been implicated in tho allair, was acquitted. William John Jones, a lad of 18, admitted incest with a sister. The Judgo directed tho case to stand over for a week to consider the question of how to deal with tho accused. A lad named Leonard Bboard appeared on four indictments charging him with indecent assault on other boys. Bcforo tho first easo was heard tho Judge remarked that ho was sorry the law did not allow him to clear tho Court altogether. Later. —At tho Supremo Court Win. Wobb for breaking and entering, was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment. Win. John Jones, 18, pleaded guilty to incest. Sontenco was deferred. David Sandford, an elderly man, was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for incest.