THE SUPREME COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2107, 5 February 1908, Page 2

THE SUPREME COURT.

A COOL CUtSTOMFR. Piess Association. I AUCKLAND, Fob. 4. At the Sunromo Court this morn- I . ing, before Mr. Justice Jtdwards, a I f rail-looking youth named James a Henry Sergeant was found guilty of |» stealing a ilorse, saddle, and bridle, I 11 breaking, entering, and theft. For « attempted breaking and ontering no I t was sentenced to six years. Aimed I J why sentence should not be passed, 1 prisoner replied: "1 am only 41 I years or age. Although, as Mr. lole, Ir; Grown Prosecutor, says, 1 have serv- j ed a sentence of seven years on Id i charges of arson, I am penniless, , characterless, and bankrupt in boa I- | tli. 1 can only throw myself upon ] tho mercy of the Court. J have oei- I f tainly nothing to urge in extenuation, but at the same time the sento nee iust served hi gaol has done D nothing for the good of society or myself. 1 fail to see how n long sentence on this occasion will do good either to myself or society. . . Jiis Honor expressed tho opinion that the sentence had done a great deal of good to society, which must iju* protected. It was absolutely uc- 1 ocssarv to put prisoner out of tlio way, ‘where society would not be troubled. . • Throughout the proceedings pn.y on-er conducted his own case with great coolness. He addressed the jury fluently at great length. j J Cross-examined by Air. Brown, the prisoner evinced much pride in Jus previous achievement Ho oxplamed to the Court that ho did not pose as a model of virtue. SITTING IN WELLINGTON. Press AssociationWELLINGTON, l<eb. 4. At the Supremo Court to-day Archibald McNab was convicted oi stealing £lls from a deal mute named David Sutherland. Sutherland had been imprisoned for one month for habitual drunkenness, and when taken to gaol ho had a considerable sum of money, which was paid by the authorities into the Public Trust Account. When Sutherland left tlio fr aol, tho gaoler returned the money, and Sutherland began to celebrate his release by getting intoxicated, and was known to cash a cheque tor £lls, receiving money chiefly in £2O notes. On June 18th Sutherland s , dead body was found in AVellington harbor, tho only cash in the pockets of his clothes ‘ being one penny. It j i was not suggested by the Crown that ; McNab was concerned in any way with Sutherland’s death, but that he had robbed Sutherland of his money, and shared it with others, to keep them quiet. The prisoner was found guilty, and sentenced to twelve months’ hard labor. John George Coulson was acquiti ted on a charge of stealing a horse, • trap, and harness, valued at £lo, > from George Henry Perry, at Carf terton. The Crown declined to proceed with a second indictment, charging Coulson with stealing two pigs from Perry. “ AT TIAIARTJ. ' Press Association. r TIAIARTJ, Feb. 4. ® The Supreme Court was occupied _ this evening till 9.30, over the case of an ex-employee charged with col--0 lecting a cheque for £5 6s due to the s employer without authority, and not s accounting for it. It was a case of y oatli against oath as to authority, ii and as to accounting, and the jury e disagreed.