COURTS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9161, 2 June 1908, Page 5

COURTS.

Per Press Association

Timaru, June 2

The criminal sessions of “ the Supreme Court opened here this morning before Judge Williams, who congratulated the district bn the lightness of the calendar. There are only two criminal cases, one an assault upon a girl, the other wilfully shooting horses. In the latter case accused pleaded guilty and was admitted to probation for 12 months and was ordered to pay £4O damages to the owner of the horses, also the costs of prosecution £lO. Invercargill, June 2.

The Supreme Court sittings were opened by Justice Deuniston, who said that he had again to congratulate the district on the extremely satisfactory nature of the calendar. There were only two charges, neither of a serious character. He commented on the total absence of crimes of violence aud of that class 9

of offence which in some places was too common. Ernest William Clempson pleaded guilty to forgery in making a false school certificate representing that he had passed the fifth standard, v/hereas he had only passed the fourth, in order to get employment on the railway. Accused was 27 years of age, his wife delicate and he had two children. His Honor refused probation. These frauds on the public, he said, were, becoming too common and something must be done to put a check on them. He sentenced prisoner to three months’ imprisonment, stating that he would have passed a longer sentence only for the age and character of accused.