Supreme Court.

Manawatu Herald, 6 February 1902, Page 2

Supreme Court.

CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

The criminal sittings! of the Supreme Court were resumed on Tuesday before the Chief Justice. The case of Bertie Grenville (convicted of theft of a bicycle) was further adjourned till to-day, in order to give the Probation Officer time to make more inquiries. Jack Taiwhanga, convicted of theft, who had been remanded , to allow of his antecedents being in- '

Castigated, admitted that ha had convicted at Wanganui on two charges of theft last 3 uno, before the Chief Justice. It was pointed out by his Honor that on that occasion ha had stretched the Act to give the prisoner its benefit. His Honor said he was unwilling to inflict the heaviest penalty on the prisoner, but he felt it was a case in which the penalty must be one of eighteen months’ imprisonment, with hard labour. "■* John O’Grady was charged with having at Awahuri, near Palmerston, on the 9th January, indecently assaulted a child aged nine years and three months. Mr Gully prosecuted for the Crown, and Mr Moore appeared for the defence. Mr Alfred Duggan was foreman of the jury. The hearing of the case occupied the whole of the Court sitting--from 10 a.m. to 4.46 p m. The jury, after over three hours’ absence, returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy, on account of the prisoner’s youth and previous good character. His Honor said he would take notice of the recommendation. Evidence as to the lad’s previous good character was heard. His Honor remanded the prisoner till to-day, to allow the Probation Officer to report.