SUPREME COURT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2664, 4 October 1881, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

ortmjnaiT SESSIONS. [By Telegraph.] Wellington, Oct. 4. At the Supremo Court [to-day true bills were found against Esther for larceny, and against Samuel Kcef for defacing coinage. The Court has been occupied a long time with charges of larceny against Kiri, a native, and these arc not yet finished. Dunedin, Oct. ?>. This afternoon John Ferguson, for the larceny of a Waikouaiti County Council vouchor, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 18 months. Mary Ann Goddard pleaded guilty to wounding John Cargill, her paramour, and was sentenced to six months. William Thomas, who pleaded guilty to theft, and was found guilty of assault with a hammer with intent to prevent being apprehended, was sentenced to one year on tho former, and on the latter charge to throe years, George O’Brien, an old offender, for the larceny of a ruler from the Harbor Board office, was sentenced to two years. Frederick Coy for killing sheep with intent to steal the skins, was found not guilty. No bill was found against Augustus on t?io indictment for murder, hut true hills worn found for manslaughter and assault. THE AUGUSTUS CASK, Oct. I. Augustus, charged with the manslaughter of his wife at Oamaru, was tndny acquitted without any evidence being offered. At the outset Mr O’Meagher, prisoner’s counsel, stated that when deceased’s depositions were taken she was in an unlit state to undcigo cross-examination, and the completion of her cross-examination was adjourned, but before it . could be continued the woman died, this was admitted by the Magistrate and the Judge held that under the circumstances there was no case, and the Jury returned a verdict of not guilty as directed. The prisoner was then arraingnod for assault, with intent to inflict bodily harm, and pleaded guilty to a common assault which plea was accepted by tho Crown Prosecutor. In sentencing bin the -fudge said the prisoner had been guilty of great brutality to a woman who had gone to her account. He was a man free from all common humanity and decency, and if he had been permitted he (the learned Judge) would hare given him a sentence live times as much as that he would now pass for common assault. Tho maximum penalty was a year’s imprisonment with hard labor, to which he sentenced the prisoner.