SUPREME COURT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2663, 3 October 1881, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

SECOND EDITION

■ CRIMINAL SESSIONS. [By Telegraph.] Auckland, Oct. 3. The Supreme Court Sessions opened this morriiog. Ten prisoners are charged with 14 offences, but with the exception of foui, namely, two of rape, one of sodomy, and one of indecent assault, none‘are of a very serious character. There- is a- charge of ..sending a letter threatening to murder, and another of sweating coin. Eight of the prisoners arc Maoris. Arthur Duke, for larceny, was sentenced to nine months. True bills were found against Butterwortb, for larceny, Irwin, for larceny as bailee, and Te Ngnro, for breaking »nd entering. Dunedin, Oct. 3. The Criminal Sessions commenced thisi. morning. Mr Justice Johnston delivered a long opening address, but the greater part of it was occupied in commenting on the charge against Augustus, who was committed for manslaughter at Oamaru, and indicted for murder. His Honor went carefully over the evidence, and from his comments it appeared that he did not consider the charge of murder could bo sustained, and that the charge of manslaughter would only be proved on the jury being satisfied that acts of Augustus hastened his wife s death. A count bad been introduced charging Augustus with accelerating his wife’s death, by neglecting to procure medical assistance, hut His Honor said ho had considerable doubt whether under the circumstances of the case that course could be considered as a cause of the acceleration of the woman’s death, and the question of manslaughter or murder must stand on the qustion of the violence she received. Of course, His Honor added, if an indictment were brought for assault there was plenty of evidence to enable them to find a true bill on that. Eliza Whittet, who was charged with house breaking, was acquitted. John Ferguson for stealing from a dwelling was sentenced to 18 months. Christian Yecht pleaded guilty to a charge of maliciously injuring property, but the case was ordered to stand over to enable His Honor to consider a technical point as to whether the indictment was correct in form.