CRIMINAL SESSIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1929, Page 3

CRIMINAL SESSIONS

PRISONERS REMANDED FOR SENTENCE. ,By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 20. At the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court, Edward Mulver was found not guilty on three charges of having wilfully done an indecent act in Hagley Park. No bill was returned against a Maori from Chatham Islands, named i’ene Tahuhu, for alleged carnal knowledge ctf a girl of 16 years j and lie tvas discharged from custody. uolin Henry Percival Hagarty pleaded guilty to theft from David Hamilton Weir Currie, on July 5, 1929, of a watch and chain valued at £l7 10s. The actual charge was of robbery with violence, but this Hagarty denied. The Crown Prosecutor accepted his plea. „ Accused was remanded for sentence. Jas. Joseph Thomas Morris was charged with stealing from J. E. Hulton, Ltd. the sum of £403 lls 10d. He pleaded / guilty and was remanded for sentence. Matilda Reynolds pleaded guilty to bigamy and was remanded till to-mor-i row for sentence. LAND AGENT’S THEFT Alfred Ernest Craddock, land agent, was Ifound guilty of the theft of £885,j and was remanded for sentence. The' jury made a strong recommendation to mercy on account of accused’s age, and Mr Justice Adams intimated that he would take this into consideration in fixing the sentence. Craddock was charged that on or about April 9, 1929, at Christchurch, he did fraudulently omit to account, for or pay the sum of £BBS, being the amount of a cheque dated April Bth. 1929, received by him from Alfred Ernest Baxter, on terms requiring him to pay some to Thomas Wallace and Sou. The evidence showed that Craddock went into partnership with Wallace as land agents on March,. 1928. Craddock arranged tne sale of property to Baxter for £BBS. A deposit of £IOO was paid into the firm’s account, but the balance was not paid. Craddock left Christchurch in May, and Wallace found that the bank book disclosed Baxter’s cheque paid into Craddock’s- account. Later, Wallace received a blank cheque signed “Craddock ” for the balance of £BBS, amounting to £7o9', not used by Craddock.

JURYMAN FINED. NEW PLYMOUTH, August 20. Eight true bills were returned by me Grand Jury at the'Supreme Court to-day before Chief Justice .Myers. John Stanford Ludwig was found guilty on two counts of indecently assaulting a girl, aged eight, and was remanded till Friday for sentence. OBSCENE LANGUAGE. INVERCARGILL. August 20. The quarterly session of tlie Supreme Court opened here this morning. The only criminal case was that in which Andrew Dodd, of Wyndham, was charged with having used obscene language in a public place. He pleaded guilty, and was fined £ls, in default of 14 days’ imprisonment.