CHRISTCHURCH CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2432, 4 January 1881, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

Monday, Jan. 8. [Before His Honor Judge Johnston.J The perjury cases against Murphy and Watt were held over for receipt of the record of the Court from Wellington. The following convictions were recorded :—Charlotte Wright and Charlotte Scarborough, assault, one day’s imprisonment without hard labor. The Judge said the case ought never to have conic before him. William Smith, larceny, 18 months’ hard labor; J. Robinson, two burglaries, 8 years’ penal servitude ; W. 11. Hewison, forgery and uttering, 18 months’ bard labor-; Robert Grant, larceny, 12 months’ hard labor ; Herman Cooper, forgery, 18 months’ hard labor. Two prisoners, Matthew McCallum and Alfred Forest, were acquitted. J. C. Nelligan, for making false declaration, and Charles Johnston, for unlawfully wounding were remanded for sentence. The Grand Jury have to meet again, as several cases are still to be dealt with by them, and it is very probable they will have another charge of murder to consider.

The three lads charged with shooting the man Pearce on the banks of the Avon river were discharged, the Crown Prosecutor declining to indict two of them, and no bill being found against the third. THIS DAY. At the Supreme Court to-day, Charles Johnston for stabbing, was sentenced to G months ; Jane Mayfield for forgery, two years ; Sarah Brimmescombe, concealment of birth,six months. George Nome, charged with undecent assault, was acquitted ; Peter Hagland for horse stealing got two years, and for breaking out of prison six months.