SUPREME COURT—CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5783, 11 October 1879, Page 3

SUPREME COURT—CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

Friday, OoTOßtn 10, 1879. (Before his Honor the Chief Justice.) SENTENCE. Abraham Walmsley, who had pleaded guilty to housebreaking and stealing a quantity of small articles, was brought up for sentence. In reply to the clerk, he said he had gone to the house because he had no place to go to, and ho had no intention of stealing the articles. His Honor sentenced prisoner to six months’ imprisonment with hard labor; the sentence to commence at the expiration of one he is at present undergoing. SHEEP-STEALING. Cornelius Fisher was arraigned on a charge of killing, on October 4, 1877, seven sheep, the property of James Floyd, Porirua, with intent to steal their carcases. A second count charged him with killing the sheep with intent to steal their skins, and a third count charged him with stealing the sheep. Prisoner pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr. Travers. The case has only recently been reported in the E.M. Court proceedings. It depended almost entirely upon the evidence of Maoris, who had seen Fisher driving sheep, presumably, the property of Floyd, into the bush, where he killed them. Mr. Bell having opened the case called James Floyd, Ohia Pokaiatara, Hera, Arthur Fisher, and Himiona Perangi, but after examining them he stated that he did not think there was any use going further with the case, and the jury, under the direction of his Honor, returned a verdict of not guilty. There was a second charge of sheep-stealing against Fisher, but the Crown Prosecutor entered a nolle prosequi, upon this charge. The Court, at 1 p.m., adjourned till 10 a,m. on Monday.