A KNOTTY POINT OF LAW

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 July 1910, Page 3

A KNOTTY POINT OF LAW

[l'KIl PKESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, This Day. In the Appeal Court tho case. Uex v. Steele is being hoard. This is to decide what constitutes and habitual criminal. Tho Act say* that whrre the prisoner has been previously convicted on at least lour oeca.sionts of certain oflVnces he may he so declared. Steele was sentenced mi four separate, indictments at Auckland in May I!K>7, and again in l!) 09 I'or mine, simihur offences, including forgery. Judge. Fxlwards declared him an habitual criminal. l»iit. the prisoner contended that he had. not been previously convicted oiii four occasions. The Judge, reserved the easy for the, .\ppoal Court. Tlie case turns on tho meaning of the word ''occasion,,—whether the Court can consider each o>l the several charges an "occasion," or whether it must look at the (late of each conviction. The SolicitorGeneral appeared for the Crown, •vnd Steele conducted his own c:im».