SITTINGS ELSEWHERE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8351, 11 February 1913, Page 10

SITTINGS ELSEWHERE

Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, February 10. The Supreme Court criminal sessions opened this morning. There are fifteen indictments against twelve persons. Mr Justice Deimiston, in his charge to the Grand Jury, said the cases were unusually simple, and he would not refer to them in any- detail. Tho list includes two charges of bigamy and several of a sexual nature. In connection with the charge against Charles James Russell with having attempted illegally to procure abortion, which was adjourned at the last sessions of the Supreme Court, an application was made to-day'for a further adjournment. His Honor, together with counsel for the accused, and Mr T. W. Stringer, K.C., held a short consultation, and the application for adjournment was refused. Tho case will proceed this session, probably to-mor-row. Queenie Wilson pleaded guilty to a charge of perjury, and was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Edgar Stanley Hal© pleaded guilty to two charges of housebreaking and theft, and was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon and admitted to probation for twelve months. James Alexander Cunningham, who pleaded guilty to breaking, entering, and theft, was admitted to twelve months’ probation. Michael Dempsey was found not guilty of committing an unnatural act. Tho grand jury returned no bill against Thomas Hobbs, charged with an indecent act, intending to insult. DUNEDIN, February 10. Albert Victor Bucton, aged twentyone, for false pretences at Dunedin, was committed to Invercargill for reformative treatment for three years. In the case of Harold Charles Phillips, aged thirty-three, for forgery at Dunedin, his Honor took into consideration the evidence that prisoner had led an honest life except when in drink, and sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment. John Millar was acquitted on a charge of committing an unnatural offence near Balclutha, and Alexander Howarth Hartland Jordan was acquitted on a charge of indecent exposure at Dunedin. AUCKLAND, February 10. In the Supremo Court, Mr Justice Edwards sentenced Walter Richard Page, for theft from a vessel at Auckland, to twelve months’ hard labour and five years’ reformative treatment; Thomas Herbert Aitken. for forgery at Gisborne, to one year, and two years’ reformative treatment; William Bert Millington, theft from a boardinghouse, six months’ imprisonment, and two years’ reformative treatment.