OTHER CENTRES

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 38

OTHER CENTRES

CRIMINAL SITTINGS

AUCKLAND, February 3 The criminal sessions opened this morning Judge Edwards, in his charge, regieted that there had been no diminution in crime during his absence from the Dominion. There were no less than 38 persons charged at the present sitting, amongst the cases being two of murder, one of attempted murder, and 10 in connection with sexual offences,

Albert Marsden, a young man, who pleaded " Guilty " to forgery and theft at Onehunua. was broucrht ud for sentence His Honor remarked that the offence were very seiious, but he did not like to send such a young man to prison. Ho would admit him to probation for two years. Prisoner was ordered to pay the costs of The court (£3 3s 6d! in monthly instalments of 10s.

Peter Alexander admitted a number of previous convictions for false pretences and forgery. He had pleaded '"Guilty" m the lower court to forgery, and was sentenced to 18 months' hard labour.

John Hooper, a young man. committed for trial from Waiapu, charged with breaking and entering and theft of a quantity of weanng apparel, pleaded '"Guilty," and was sentenced ro 12 month*' hard labour. February 4.

At the Supreme Court this morning, before Mr Justice Edwards, a frail-looking' youth named James Henry Sergeant wa9 found guilty of stealing a horse, saddle, and bridle, breaking and entering, theft, and attempted breaking and entering, and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment. On being asked why sentence should not be passed, prisoner replied : "I am only 21 years of age. although, as Mr Tole (Crown Prosecutor) says. 1 have served a sentence of seven yea.rs on 13 charges of arson. lam penniles 3 . characterless, and bankrupt in health. I can only throw myself upon the mercy of the court. I have certainly nothing to urge in extenuation, but at the same time the sentence I have just served in gaol has <lone nothing for thp good of society or myself. I fail to see how a long sentence on this oooasion will do good either to myself or to society," His Honor expressed the opinion that the sentence had done a great deal of good to society. w hich must be protected. It was absolutely necessary to put prisoner where sooietv would not he troubled. Throughout the proceedings the prisoner conducted his own case with grea-t ooolness, and addressed the jury fluently at great length. Cross-examined by the Crown, the prisoner evinced ranch pride jn his previous achievements, and explained to the court that he did not pose as a model of virtue. February 5.

At thp Supreme Court this afternoon James Ve3ey, a man about 40 year 3 of age, pleaded " Not guilty " to three charges of indecent assault. The assault occurred in Victoria Park on December 30. and the victims of the outrage are three little girls, aged respectively siy, seven, and sight years. Evidence vra& given to the effect lhat the three children were playing in Victoria Park, when they met the prisoner, who tampered with them and then gave them money to buy lollies. His actions wero observed by some men, who went up to hi'n. whereupon the prisoner declared ihut the nhildren were hi* own One of the krJ" juris wa ; reootfu-*"" 1 hovie"ver, by

' one of the men. In sentencing the prisoner t-o &e\en j ears' hard labour, his Honor said

that in this court two a ears ago the prisoner had been convicted of a similar filthy assault upon a little girl. It was quite clear that he was one of those persons who ought ne\er to be allowed at liberty at all. If it was in his HoiioTs power he would ha\e Ue-atcd him as an habitual criminal.

Alfred Crossoy,

who was comic ted on

Monday on two charges of false pretences, was sentenced to two jears" imprisonment. February 7. At the Supreme Court to-day, Nicholas Albert Maddren. 22, was placed upon his trial charged with anon and theft at Kiripaki. In outlining the case foi the Crown, the Hon. J A. Tole, X.C, said that the

Erisoner was charged firstly with setting re to a dwelling-house on the Ist January, and. secondly, with breaking into a dwel-ling-house and stealing therefrom a sum of £180. The prisoner '"as a son-in-law of

Mr Olsen, whose noney was taken, md brother-in-law to Mr Wetherali, whose house was burnt on the night of the fire. Mrs Olsen was in her house, which prisoner knew well, having lived there. Prisoner had had some unpleabantness with his biother-in-law — so much so that he threatened his brother-in-law that he would

"settle with him another time." On the Ist January prisoner was living at his mothers house. He apparently resorted to the expedient of setting fire to-Wcthor-all's house and then went over a distance of about half a mile to his mother-in-law's house. He threw stones at the windows, and getting no response, went round the house and knocked at the door. He a>-oused Mrs Olsen and told her that Wetherall's house was on fire. By that expedient he got his mother-in-law and her son out of the house. Whilst they were away prisoner broke into the house and with a poker broke open a drawer in a chest of drawers containing the money. Prisoner took the drawer and money away with him. Evidence was given, and

prisoner was found " Guilty " and remanded for sentence.

February 10

James William Russell Hunter, who assisted Cox (previously declared a habitual

criminal) in breaking- and entering two Parnell residences, was sentenced to two > ears' imprisonment on each charge,

the sentences to be concurrent. Nicholas Albert Maddren, for arson and breaking and entering at Whangarei, was sentenced <o two years and a half's imprisonment. James Blcomfield, age-d 82. for breaking and entering, was sentenced to 18 months. '

At the Supreme Court this morning thiee persons were subjected to undetermined sentences. They were John Len-

non, found guilty of forgery a.nd uttering

who admitted having served thiee separate sentences of from 18 months to two >ears; Jane Isidore Percy, who some time ago had a meteoric career as Lord Northeek ; and Chillies Hen it Cox, who was first sent to araol 10 -\ear=. ago at 19 years of age. and had since had a very brief period of liberty. He was now found guilty of breaking and entering ancl theft, and was sentenced to

three years' imprhornent and declared a habitual ciiminal. Alexander Henry M'TaMsh charged with shooting with intent at Herbert Suter (second mate of the steamer Quito) and attempted suicide, plea-ded that he was so drunk that he had no know-ledge of what he was doing. The jury found him "Not guilty."' He was discharged.

February 3.

The criminal sessions commenced to-day. Mr Justice Chapman congratulated the

Grand Jury on the fact that the cases they would have to consider represented comparatiielv speaking a satisfactory state of affairs in this district. The crimes alleged v ere neither numerous nor exceptionally serious.

Thirteen cases were 6et down for trial, and the Grand Jury found a true bill on

each indictment.

In the oase of James

Sheridan, charged with the murder of John M'Nally, the jury returned a bill of m»n«l«u«tter P"re-d«rick Cooper pleaded " Guilty " to several charges of burglary at private houses in the city. The man had a bad record, and was sentenced to three years" imprisonment. John Moffatt and Charles Mack were found guilty of robbery from a hotel, and were remanded for sentence next day. Patrick Brady was sentenced to four months' imprisonment for robbing a drunken sailor. James Mills and Arthur Thomas, found guilty of assault and robbery at Maalerton, were each sentenced to two years' hard labour.

February 4.

At to-day's sitting of the Supreme Court John Moffett and Charles Miaok were charged with breaking and entering and theft. Both were sentenced to two years' imprisonment and declared to be habitual criminals

Archibald M'Nab was convicted of stealing £115 from a deaf muro named David Sutherland. Sutherland had been imprisoned for one month for habitual drunkenness When taken to gaol he had a considerable sum of money, which was paid By the authorities into the public trust account. When Sutherland left the gaol the gaoler returned the money. Sutherland began to celebrate his release by getting intoxicated, and wa3 known to cash a cheque ifor £115. receiving the money chipflv in £20 notes. On June 18 Sutherland's dead body was found m the Wellington Harbour, and the only cash in the pocket.? of his clothes was one penny. It was not suggested by the Crown that M'Nab was concerned in any way with Sutherland's death, but that he robbed Sutherland of his money and shared it with others to keep them quiet. The accused was found guilty and was sentenced to ]2 months' hard labour. John George Coulson was acquitted on a charge of ■stealine a horse, trap, and harness, valued at £15, from George Henry Perry at Oarterton. The Crown declined to pro•peed with &. second indictment charging Coulson with stealing two pic? from Perry. WELLINGTON. February 5. ' At to-day's Bittintr of the Supreme Court Adeline Francis pleaded " Guilty " 'to a charge of having forged an acknowledgment of the receipt of a registered letter containing £2 Bs, and was sentepced" to three months' imprisonment. Phylus Ferarro, who was charged with assaulting Gustav Tamm, with intent to maim him or infliot 'grievous bodily harm, was found diilty of unlawfully wounding, and was recommended to mercy on the ground of the general muddle through drink of othpr parties to the quarrel which led tip to the wounding-. Accused was remanded ' till to-morrow for sentence. Edward I Winter was acquitted on a oharge of in- j decenMy a«?«ultinir -a sir! WELLINGTON February 6. At to daj"s sitting of the Supreme Court

Phyllis Ferraro, who had been found guilty of wounding Gustaff Tamin, was sentenced to four months' imprisonment. Geoigc Chaffey, on a charge of theft, was sentenced to three months. Elizabeth Victoria. Shore, on a charge of making a faSc. declaration under the Births and Deaths Registration Act, was ordered to come np for sentanee when called upon. Edward Leydon, a letter-carrier, was found guilty of stealing a postal packet containing jewellery, and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. James Malachy Sheridan was arraigned on an indictment charging him with the manslaughter of John M'Nally at Wellington on January 3, 1908. The evidence was mainly on the lines of that telegraphed at the time of the occurrence and at the inquest. Two witnesses said they had seen deceased in a very drunken state being assisted by Sheridan to a place where he could sit down. One witness sa.d he saw deceased fall and strike his head heavily on the footpath. The defence was that deceased's death was really accidental. Sheridan, giving evidence on his own behalf, said he tned to put M'Nally in a place of safety, while he was drunk. M'Nally struck him several times, and made use of bad language tow arris him. He went to leave M'Nally, who followed and struck him again. It jras w hile endeavouring to protect himself horn this blow thajt he hit deceased, knocking him down. He had not so much struck M'Nally as he had endeavoured to ward off the attack on himself. After a retirement of 15 minutes the jury returned a verdict of "Not guilty. 1 '

February 10.

At the Supreme Court to day Robert Rankin, who had pleaded eniltv to stealing £22, was admitted to probation for two years, and was ordered to pay the ccsts of the prosecution and to refund the stolen money.

OHRISTOHrROH. February 10

The criminal session opened to-day before Mr Justice Denimton. The calendar contains four cases for tiial and five for sentence. In charging the Grand Jury. h\s Honor said that the calendar was gratif\ ing as indicating a comparatively trifling extent of serious cr-me.

Benjamin O'Connoll (Ohoka) was admitted to probation for 12 months, and wa« ordered to pay costs for assault with intent to commit a robbery. Other sentences were : John Morreii, six months for forgery: Win. Morris, two years for forgery ; Samuel Bennett (61 years), five years for breaking; and entering, theft and forgorv, £nd uttering. He was d-eclared to bo a habitual criminal. William Portelli was sentenced to three months for breach of probation, and David C^urtenay to three years for theft from the person. Samuel Arthur Maxton (Kaikoura) was admitted to ■probation for false pretences, and Frank Puddle was finpd £10 for common assault, while Edgar Neate was fined £10 for keeping a betting-house.

TIMARU, February 4. _ The criminal session** opened here this morning before Mr Justice Dcnniston. who said the district was to he congratulated on its comparative freedom from crimp. There were cnlv three oases for trial, all from outside Timaru. Henry Cox, a youth of 19. was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for a breach of the Probation Act Albert Sims, for attempted rape near Ashburton, was 6Pntenced to seven years' hard labour, his Honor remarking that it was not safe to allow such a man to mix with society. Accused is only 20 years of age, and in 1904 he was convicted at Wellington for assaulting a vounsr girl. The Supreme Court was occupied till 9.30 p.m. o%er a case of an ex-employee who was charged with collecting a cheque for £5 6s due to an employer without atithority and not accounting for it. It was a case of oath against oath as to authority and accounting, and the jury disagreed.

■miARU. February 5At the Supreme Court this morning; L Zouch, a dentist, of Ashburton, was found guilty of failing to keep proper books, and Wfi-S Or<3^T*^<3 +O enter into on.c r^copnisance of £50 to come up for sentence when called upon. His Honor said that he agreed with the verdict of the juvv, but did not like to send a man to gaol for this offenct? if it was conTnittod through mere carelessness. He was not altog-ether satisfied with accused's conduct, and intended to s;et more information concerning the case from the Official Assignee, with a view to ascertaining whether accused had any ulterior motive in destroying *ho butts of hie cheque books

February 6.

The Supreme Court criminal session was concluded this afternoon. John W. Morris, regarding whose ease one jury disagreed, was, with additional evidence, convicted of misappropriating £5 6s, moneys collected for an employer, and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. The offence was committeed in August, 1906, and accused was arrested in December, in the North Island.