SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 120, 15 June 1901, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

FEB PBEB4 ASSOCIATION. Ikvehcaroill, June 14. To-day the tiupieme Court trok two charges arising out of the Wyndhata in which Barbarat Oustaine, a girl of 14, gave birth to a child which was accidentally smothered. N. il Douglas, aged 35, was charged with indecently oss iulting the girl on several occasions, Tha offence was practically admitted, tho defence being that he believed her to be over 16. Accused went ioto the box and stated that his quarters wrne in a barn when he was on the girl's father'o farm, and that she came then of her own volition v He thought from her conversvion, anchor of drefs, and her carrying on that she was over 16. Summing up Judge Co per said it wm a terrible rase. Tuis gi'l of 13 seemed to have had way and to some extent developed viciou* tendencies. The ju y found Djuglus guilty and iho judge p-sied a s ntirce of three' yens. 1-fe fcrofc ioto consideration the facttiat the g.'rl did not see n to have been properly traited and poerily held oat inducement to accused, but a law had been parsed ta protect sueh girls. John Woods, 23, charged with the same offence 'with the same girl pi jaded guilty. HU. Honor (aid this case was on'itely different in character. The ruin of the girl could not be 'laid at . Wcod*' door, as the other prisoner first di baiichod the girl, and it was to seme exknt b- came of the offjnes committed by Do glats that WooAs wai led into thisc ime. He thought lr would ha doing h : s duty by givingtbe prisoner * chance ;o ledcem bims If, and hoped ha would take advantage o£ it. Prisoner wfcs admitted to probation lor 12 mojtbs on paying tin pounds cos's. Wanqanui, June 14. The Supr. me Court session was concluded today. Thos, Spalding, for" . common afsiuH on a young womin was s ntenced tj foui'm inths'imprisonment, IG orgo Sha"ahan, alina Shannon, for a brutal assault on an«lderly woman* was ! sentenced to eight years' .bard labour. . Will am Diummund Smith, charged I with ars n, receive ! a hard Mo.ir. T e civil sittings were ad* jourupd 11 the 24th,