SUPREME COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1931, Page 6

SUPREME COURT

THEFT CHARGE., (By Telegraph —Per Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, October 30. Ernest Couper Smith, aged fortysix, pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Coutt, to the following charge : “That between April 10 and August 5, 1931, he did steal goods to the value of ££6B 5s 6d, the property of Haling and Co.” Smith, it \va£ held, sent a large quantity of goods .to Ashburton, where he opened a shop, put a man in charge and called the place the Bargain Stores. Smith said he was buying the goods, but the money was not paid to i.daling’s. The proceeds of the Ashburton sales were used to buy more stock from other firms.

The jury retired at 5 p.m.. and returned at 7.55 p.m., with a verdict of guilty. “We recommend mercy owing to the state of his health, and the health of. his family,” said the foreman.

Smith was remanded till Monday morning tor sentence.

-SENTENCES IMPOSED

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 2. Prisoners sentenced by Mr Judge Adams were: —

Frederick Ashley .Neale, a land deader, failure to keep proper books, -three months’ imprisonment. Ernest’-.Couper smith, aged 1 46, theft of goods -valued at £968, while acting us company, manager, admitted to P»'°--bation for 2 years and ordered to make i restitution,. ' - James Thomas Toomey, aged 35, formerly a teller in the Post and Telegraph Department, theft of Government moneys three years’ reformative detention. Leonard Rees Wilkinson, breach of probation, two years’ imprisonment on his original charge of breaking and entering. Arthur Edwin Hall, carnal knowledge, three months’ imprisonment. Edward John Barkley indecent assault on a male, committed to an inebriates house for one yeai. Murdoch Kenneth Campbell* a former employee of the Post and lelegiaph Department, theft of five pounds Government moneys, a year’s probation. CARNEY CASE. NEW TRIAL ORDERED. CHRISTCHURCH, November 2. Washington Irving Carney, a woolbroker. contracting a debt of £l7 wit lout reasonable expectation of ability to pay, also appeared for sentence. Sentence was postponed. The Crown applied for a new trial on a charge of bringing about') bankruptcy bv extravagant living on which the Jury disagreed last week. Judge Adams agreed and the new trial begins to-morrow.