SUPREME COURT.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1925, Page 1

SUPREME COURT.

BY TELEGRArn PRESS ASSN'., COPY'RIOHT. DUNEDIN SENTENCES. DUNEDIN, August 4. The criminal sittings opened before Air Justice Sim.

Charles Donald, an old man who was declared an habitual criminal in 1919, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on charges of false pretences, the sentences to be cumulative, and ho was again declared an habitual criminal. The Judge remarked that ho could not understand why the Prisons Board, from time to time let out liabituals, thus giving thorn opportunities for further crime.

David Louis Armour Michie. on three charges of breaking and entering, was placed on three years’ probation.

Colin Frederick McDonald, two charges of breaking and entering, was sentenced to three years’ reformative detention.

James Alexander Fraser and Robert Murray Nowlands pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces. The former was fined £25, and the latter £lO. ’ ' William Martin Heckler and Edward Carnegie were charged with having committed manslaughter by killing William James Cochrane. They were charged under the new regulations with having negligently driven a motor car, so as to cause the death of Cochrane. Heckler was the driver of the car, and Carnegie the owner. Heckler was learning to drive, and drove a Ford ear into the hack of a dray, on the Balelutlia traffic bridge. Tho boy Cochrane was hanging on to the back of the dray, and received fatal injuries. The jury brought in a verdict of guilty in each case. WELLINGTON CASES. WELLINGTON, August 1. In the Supremo Court to-day, John Boulicria, restaurant keeper, was convicted 011 three charges of attempting to procure miscarriage. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment 011 each charge, the sentences to be cumulative. An elderly man. George William Thorpe, who was found guilty on 12 charges of forgery and theft, amt pleaded guilty to similar charges was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on each charge the, sentences to lie concurrent. The Judge took into account the Jury’s recommendation to mercy, on account of his age, and illhealth. Tho Supreme Court is occupied today in hearing a charge of alleged breach of the Bankruptcy Act by Alfred Eaton Mailman, a bankrupt grocer. Accused, it is alleged, contracted debts at a time when, being bankrupt lie had no reasonable expectation of paying them.