SUPREME COURT.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1926, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

[nv Tta.fcCltAl'H —l’Klt CRESS ASSOCIATION.] FI NC ER-RRI NT CONVICTION. AUCKLAND. Feb. I AI the Supreme ('• > u rt, Joseph Roy O'Shea, aged 21). was found guilty of assaulting Leslie 'Titcbener and robbing him of £2O. Finger ’print, evidence by Senior-Sergeant Finnic. Wellington, played ail imparl ant pari in the eme. Finnic said lie found fifteen points of similarity hot ween the linger-prims found on certain hot lies and a certified print made by the middle finger of accused’s right baud. There were tliiity million chances to cue against. the prints being from any other linger than that of the accused. Mr Justice Stringer remarked that the value of finger-print evidence was now I’airly establishcd. and in all civilised countries it was regarded as of positive value. Accused was remanded for se'ntence.

BANK FRAUD. WELLINGTON, Feh. -I

At the Supreme Court trial of Baume and Smith, charged with fraud on the Post Office Savings Bank. Postal Bank officials gave evidence that at first cheilites on the Bank of New Zealand at Invercargill were deposited in- the Savings Hank, and these were drawn against before the cheques were cleared. It was alleged that the money was divided between the pair. One Postal official said nothing was wrong; with their sytcin. but the human element entered into it. His Honour said that when two men could draw snob. sums from a Bank alter merely deposting a niece of paper, something was wrong with the system. He questioned if in any other hanking institution in the Dominion a man could have done what hail boon done in this instance. AN ACQUITTAL. AUCKLAND. Fob. 4. Tn the Supremo Court. Joseph Sturgo Redforn. on two charges ol incest, was acquitted. The defence was a general denial of the allegations, and also that his two daughters had given evidence because of their hatred of their father. Evidence was offered attacking the character of the girls.

TIMAP.U SENTENCES. TTM.ARU, Feb. 3

At the Supreme Court to-day, Stanley Gilbert Taylor was sentenced by Justice Adams to eighteen months hard labour for breaking, entering and theft. George Spencer Pearse, who is now serving a term, of three years’ relormatjvc treatment, was sentenced to a further term of three years for breaking uttering and theft, the sentence to be concurrent with, the present term. On a charge of arson, Pearse was sentenced to reformative treatment tor live years, to take effect at the expiiy of tlie present sentence.