SUPREME COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 3 November 1931, Page 6

SUPREME COURT

SESSIONS AT NAPIER

(Sy Telegraph —Per Press Association)

NAPIER, Nov. 3

The sessions at the Supreme Court commenced before Justice Ostler yes>terday. There were six criminal cases including three of. indecent assault. On a charge of ‘ using indecent language in public place, John James Gateby was, acquitted.

On a charge of attempted carnal knowledge; on. a girl of twelve years Beitie Starkey was found guilty and remanded for sentence.

SENTENCES INFLICTED

WELLINGTON'; November 3

In the Supreme Court to-day, Ralph Antonovitch was sentenced to 2 years’, /John Rvan to 2 years’, and Wilfred Henry Brown to .12 months’ imprisonment o.n each count of two charges oi conspiracy, relating to attempts to defraud two bookmakers by means of faked telegrams. Justice McGiegor said that ad three accused were convicted in the first place for conspiring together to defraud two bookmakers by delayed telegrams, which reduced their betting to a certainty. The way in which. they did this was •-Very; cunning, and could only be carried out with the, collusion of some member ,or members of the Telegraph Department.

Brown, as telegraph officer, had undoubtedly been assisting these men in their attempts to cheat the bookmakers. That was a very serious thing as it cast discredit on the whole service and possibly suspicion to be thrown on perfectly innocent people. - Gilbert Hamilton McMeeking, a dairy Jarmer,'.; WJl?j .jiiontlj.s; imprisonment on each charge ol having made false declarations to State Fire Insurance Company. . ,

. On seven charges of false pretences, ■and one of theft, Albert Edward Way received tvyelve months’ on. each charge, the sentences to. be. concurrent.