SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 41

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

GISBORNE, March 3. At the Supreme Court to-day Ira Toto fwhs admitted to probation for two 7 eara ton a charge of theft of a cheque. Daisy fettpTTiftthagi and Winnid M'Neil, alias SVblfe, were acquitted on a charge of theft m a bookmaker's ticket, worth £9, and a roiled gold watch from the person of one Goldsmith ft Ziieborne Racing Club's meeting. Hare Matenga, who evaded arrest for a number of years, was acquitted on a charm of stealing a horse in 1902. Two charges of theft from a dwelling will be jtaken against Matenga- in the morning. March 4. tease of Henari Matenga was conbefore the Supreme Court to-day, r Je being rjharged with theft from c*nn>. Counsel for the defence the Question °* eanity, and called sonof , tarho related the story of his ire*. MatenffA eaid , the primary ?e*oo6 he toot to the bush was about the Ihtarin? boree, and he was afraid that if jkiitnA be ftould %» shot. Ob. many oocalioQl he heard snou In the bush, and thought it Wtts people after him. He took vi gun from the camp because they had

fired at him with it. M&tenga was con- | victed and sentenced to 12 months" im- ■ prisonment on the two charges brought against him. J. G. Watt, convicted of making a false declaration, in order to obtain a certificate under the Marriage Act was allowed probation. F. S. Spencer wae" acquitted on a charge of having stolen two gallons of whisky from a dwelling at Rakauroa. James Malorie was acquitted on a charge of carnally knowing an ; mbecile woman. March 5. At the Supreme Court to-day James Campbell was found guilty of attempting to damage the steam, tender Tuatea. He will be sentenced to-morrow morning. Robert Charles Brown was found guilty of common assault on a Chinaman, and was sentenced to 30 days' imprisonment. His Honor said he could not allow baiting of Chinese. John Godfrey was found guilty of uttering and of the theft of three cheques. Sentence will be pronounced in the morning. March 6. At to-day'e sitting of the Supreme Court James Campbell, found guilty on the previous day of attempting to damage the steamer Tuatea, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, the judge characterising it as a most dastardly crime, likely to lead to loss of life. The sentence, his Honor said, was altogether inadequate, but the Criminal Code did not provide for 6uch a case. John Godfrey, found guilty of the theft of three cheques, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Ernest Lind wae acquitted on a charge of assault with attempt to cause bodily harm. This concluded the criminal business. March 7. In the Divorce Court a decree nisi was granted in the case of Annie Howard v. George Boswell Howard, on the ground of desertion. The caee W. R. Aitken v. Common, Shelton, and Co., claim £1000 for alleged breach of contract, the jury returned a verdict for the defendant company. NAPIER, March 3. Hugh Hamilton was sentenced to four years for irdecent assault on a child at Woodville. " I make that punishment," his Honor said, because it is deserved, and in the hope that it will be a warning to other evil-minded men like you." Arthur Rouse, forgery and uttering at Hasting, was sentenced to six months ; Ethel Olsen, arson at Farndon, 12 months' probation; Gilbert Broad, attempted suioide, father and prisoner to enter into a bond for £50 for 12 months. March 4. Rangi Epiha was. admitted to two years' probation for forgery and uttering at Hastings, and Percy James Jones to 12 months' probation for theft at Puketapu. Potohiko Paiako was acquitted on a charge of breaking and entering at Rotokiokio, near Waikaremoana. March 5. At the Supreme Court to-day Frederick Ewart and Thomas Anderson were separately charged with stealing, but were acquitted. Luther Martin Murray was found guilty of sheep-stealing and horse-stealing, and was sentenced on those charges, and also on the charge of assault with intent to rob, for which he- was convicted yesterday. His sentence is five years' imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. George Adams was" found guilty of assault and was remanded for sentence. March 6. At the Supreme Court to-day John Oswald Taylor was acquitted on a charge of assault. A charge of assault was preferred against Samuel Hill and Michael Regan. The former was acquitted, Regan being- convicted and sentenced to six months' imprisonment. March 9. At the Supreme Court on Saturday Charles Hannah was acquitted on a charge of attempting to discharge a loaded revolver at William Morris. Daniel Tofill was found guilty of the theft of a necklet, but the jury failed to agree on a charge of bicycle stealing, and & new trial was ordered. At the Supreme Court to-day Martin Johnson, charged with arson, was found guilty, and was sentenced to five years imprisonment. A peculiar point has been reserved for the Court of Appeal The indictment charged Johnson with setting fire to a building which was affixed to the soil, and counsel for the defence raised the point that the Crown had not proved that the building was affixed to the soil. WELLINGTON, March 3. Mr Justice Edwards to-day sentenced John Morrell to 18 months' hard labour on a charge of forgery and uttering. Edward vlKcnna, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of forgery, wae declared a habitual criminal. Robert Smith, a youth, pleaded guilty to a charge of forgery and uttering at New Plymouth, and was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. ! HOKITTKA, March 5. The Supreme Court sittings opened this morning. Mr Justice Denniston congratulated the Grand Jury on the comparatively light calendar. James Radeliffe who had pleaded i " Guilty " in the lower court to a charge of false pretences, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, and was declared an habitual criminal. Henry Wing Gye, for false pretences at Greymouth, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment. The Grand Jury returned no bill against J. Manera, charged -with cattle-stealing. This afternoon the Grand Jury returned true bills against Yep Duck and Charles Montague. T. N. Jones, who was charged vith theft and violent assault, was found guilty of a technioal common assault, and sentence was deferred till to-morrow. The case- against Charles Montague, who is charged with attempted indecent assault at Ngahere on November 12, was commenced, but is unfinished. [ March 6. At the Supreme Court to-day Thomas Rudolph Jones was fined £10 for assault and ordered to come up for sentence on a charge of robbery.., Charles Montague, found guilty of indecent assault, was admitted to probation for 12 months. March 7. At the Supreme Court this morning- Yep Duei, a Chinaman, was found guilty of ' celling pak-a-poo tickets and was sentenced ito three months' imprisonment. Alex MTJennan, for theft, received six months' imprisonment. March 9. The Supreme Court concluded it 6 sittings this afternoon, after being occupied a! 1 day in hearing a charge of shecp-stealin< against Joseph Manera, who was found n< . guilty.