SUPREME COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4775, 12 July 1876, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SITTINGS. (Before His Honor the Chief Justice.) The circuit sittings of the Supreme Court were resumed yesterday at 10 a.m. Mr. H. D. Bell prosecuted on behalf of the Crown. SENTENCES. John Osborne, who had been convicted on the previous day of setting fire to premises belonging to Mr. Cole, of Karori, was sentenced to six ’months’ imprisonment, with hard labor. The circumstances of this case were peculiar, the prisoner being actuated by an apparently uncontrollable impulse. These peculiarities and the fact of the jury having recommended the prisoner to mercy, induced the Chief Justice to deal leniently with hinu John Buchanan and Francis Coyne, convicted on the previous day of the larceny of a trousers and vest, were sentenced, Buchanan to three years’ penal servitude, and Coyne to twelve months’ imprisonment, with hard labor. Buchanan made a long address to the Judge in arrest of sentence, insisting that the verdict of the jury was incorrect, and asking for a postponement of sentence to next sessions. However, it was stated by Inspector Atoheson and not denied by the prisoner, that he had been previously sentenced to periods of two and three years in Auckland and twelve months in Canterbury. LARCENY FROM A DWELLING. Elizabeth Williams, a young girl apparently about twelve years of age, was charged with having stolen from the premises of Francis Loudon, storekeeper, Foxton, a watch, two rings, and sundry ether property. Mr. Gordon Allan defended the prisoner. His Honor made some remarks as to the careless way in which the depositions in this case had been prepared. Jury.—Messrs. C. Somerville, Press, South, E. Somerville, Mudgeway, J. A. Parker, W. Morris, J. Sutherland, L. P. Blundell, W, H. Bragge, W. H. Harton, and S. S. Griffiths. Francis Loudon stated that prisoner had been in his service. Missed several articles, and on taxing prisoner with the theft, she said she had only taken one ring. Went to the house of the girl’s mother, where he found sundry goods belonging to the store and private house, amongst them some books of the class usually given as prizes at Sunday-schools. Mrs. Williams said she had understood that he had given her daughter the things. Stated to her it was unlikely he should have given her daughter so many and such things as those stolen. Took some of the property to his house, assisted in doing so by the prisoner, and then gave information to the police. Went with a constable to the Williams’ house again, and found some more of the missing articles. Had not sold the goods, nor was he aware that they had been sold by any one else. Witness was cross-examined by Mr. Allan, with a view to show the precise ownership of some of the goods, about which there seemed to be a doubt. Witness stated that he recognised a right in his sister to use anything from his store as she thought fit. Elizabeth Loudon stated the nature of the prisoner’s duties while with her. She had been in her employ about nine days. Identified the books, watch, &c. The girl’s wages were Is. a day. Had not given her the property in question. The only thing witness gave her was some old gossamer. John Purcell, constable, corroborated the evidence of Francis Loudon as to accompanying him to the Williams’ house and finding pa’t of the property. Prisoner came in while witness was searching, and was present when Loudon identified the property. The girl said she knew nothing about it. As he observed the mother’s eyes fixed on her he took her out, when she said that if he (the constable) would accompany her, she would show him where the other parts of the watch were. ■Went with prisoner, and found, on sifting the sand at a place pointed out by her, a part of the watch. She said the other parts were 'in the closet. Prisoner repeatedly said that Miss Loudon had given her the things. The case of the watch had been broken into several pieces. • Mr. Allan having raised some objections as to the exact ownership of the property, the charge was left to the jury as simple larceny. Mr. Allan having addressed the jury on behalf of the prisoner, his Honor pointed out the various points of the case to the jury, telling them it -was for them to say whether, presumin'* the prisoner had taken the things, from what had been placed before them, they considered the prisoner was of an age to know clear!) what she was doing. The jury found the prisoner guilty, but recommended her to mercy on account of her jdrttth. She was remanded for sentence.

\ RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY. EluS.be th Jane Williams and William Henry T ,7il!iam», parents of the girl just convicted, were charged with having received som'e of the property mentioned in the former indictment, knowing it to have been stolen. The accused had been on bail. ' Jury.—D. Buick (foreman), W. James, E. Wrixon, A. Boulcont, A. Quinlan, T. Mellor, Somerville, Morgan, Firmin, Fox, Sheen, and Hooper. Mr. Gordon Allan for the defence.

The evidence was similar to that against the girl Williams. In addition, S. Gray, brother of Mrs. Williams, deposed to seeing some of the goods in his brother-in-law’s house. He asked the girl if Miss London had given her the tilings, or if she had stolen them, upon which her father hoped that she had not taken them, and she said Miss Loudon had given them to her.

The male prisoner was acquitted, and the female prisoner found guilty, and remanded till the following day for sentence.

LAKCENY FROM A DWELLING. Carl Iverson and Anna Iverson were charged with the' larceny of some clothing, drapery, &c., from the house of George Ooleson Sage. The prisoners were undefended. Mr. Petersen was sworn as interpreter. Carl Iverson pleaded not guilty, the female prisoner guilty. There not being, in his Honor’s opinion, any case against Carl Iverson, the Crown abandoned the charge against him. A jury was, however, by direction of his Honor, empannelled to acquit the prisoner, which was done. Anna Iverson was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, with hard labor. The prisoner had only lately arrived in the colony by the Shakspere, and is now undergoing a sentence of six months’ imprisonment for stealing a watch on board that vessel. The Court then rose.