SUPREME COURT.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 562, 3 September 1851, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

The Criminal Session of this Court commenced on Monday last, September Ist, before Uis Honour ChiefJustice Martin. The Attorney-General took his place to conduct the Crown business, having, we believe, made considerable effort to arrive in time for the sitting of the Court, after the close of the Session of the Legislative Council at Wellington The following gentlemen were sworn as the Grand Jury :— Ed ward Mayno, Esq. (Foreman), S. A. Bell, W. Brown, W. Connell, J. A. Gilfillnn, W. S. Gralinme, J. Ilargi eaves, S. Kempthoine, T. Lewis, L. M'Lachlan. VV. Powdnch, W. J. Taylor, j. W. Bain, W. Masou, and J.Salmon, Esqrs. His Honour briefly addressed the Grand Jurors, after winch they retired, and in a short time returned true bills in the two cases brought before them, and were dismissed by ihe Court. William Mai tin was indicted for having, on the 14th August, stolen two boxes of cigars, value £10 from the dwelling-house of Bryant Vercoe (the Caledonian Hotel). Mr. Vercoe and his barman, William Brightman, swore to the facts of the boxes having been missed on the night in question, and of the prisoner having on that night been in the «' long room" of the hotel, from which they were taken. . . Benjamin Young (cook of the Glencoe at that time, and a native of liotumah)] stated (hat on that night the prisoner had brought out to him from the hotel two boxes of cigars, which be told him to put iv the boat (where the boxes were found); he had refused to do so, believing it to be wrong, but subsequently consented, and placed them there. . . William Hennessy deposed that he saw the prisoner lake one of the boxes in the long room under bis arm ; witness told him that he would get into trouble ; prisoner subsequently asked witness why he did not help him... Mr. Edward Rich, commission agent, proved the sale of a number of boxes of cigars to Mr. Vercoe on the 14th of August. lie had made pi i vate mnilcs on the boxes by which he was enabled to identify those produced in couit as two of the boxes he had on that day delivered to Mr. Vercoe. The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty, with a recommendation to mercy. Georgp Strongman war indicted for stealing, on the 13th of August, horn the Educud, then in the port of Auckland, two pairs of bliinlcofj, value £2 14s, 6d., the propei ty of Edward Whelck

Mr. George appeared on behalf of the prisoner. Thomas Balme deposed to the facts of the blankets having been in the cabin of the vessel on the 13th, and missed on tbo evening of the same day. He identified those produced in the court as the same blankets. ,. J. Foster, a constable in the Armed Police, deposed thtit the prisoner's house in Vulcan Lane having been searched under a warrant, on the 14th of August, a bag containing four blankets was found in a cellar... Mr. E. Whelcb. proved his puichase of the blankets, and his sending them on board the Edward. He identified those pioduced as his property. Mr. George cross-examined these witnesses at considerable length, and produced George McKinlay with a view of contradicting some of Foster's statements. The Jury, after remaining for between three and four hours in con-ultation, returned a verdict of Guilty. Tuesday, September 2. This morning His Honour pronounced the sentence of the Court in these cases: Gpo. Strongman to be imprisoned for twelve inontli9 and kept to hard labour ;— and William Martin a similar punishment, the sentence, his Honour stated, being passed with consideration of the Jury's, recommendation to mercy.