SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 14 May 1907, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

Per Press Association. Wellington, May 13. ihe Supreme Court criminal sessions opened to-day. before Mr Justice Cooper. J lis Honor said there were eleven charges against thirteen persons, and although there was a lesser number than was sometimes the case, he regretted to say the charges were for (he most part of a very serious character. .There were two charges of murder, and a charge against two persons of manslaughter, and three charges which might be classed as sexual offences, and in addition two charges of indecent acts, and a charge of attempt to procure abortion. llis Honor reviewed the evidence relating to the various cases.

A charge of abduction which stood over from the previous session was withdrawn .accused having sim-o died. A stay of proceedings was entered in the case of George White, on a char.',, of perjury, two June., havinir disagreed" At (he N.ipeme Court to-day'llenrv Walt'Ts. an oid man, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment on a charge of breaking and entering and theif, and was declared to be an habitual criminal.

Wellington, Hay l:|. The Grand Jury returned no'bill in the ca,c of Matilda .Morris, charged with child murder at Otaki.

(Icorge Ernest Kelly, who had previously been convicted of being an idle and disorderly person, pleaded "1101 guilty" to being a rogue and vagabond, tiie consort of reputed thieves. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and prisoner, who had been in gaol awaiting trial for two months, was sentenced to "four additional months.

Ada Smith was found guiltv, with a recommendation to mercy, on'a chap'e of receiving sloleu property, and "remanded tiil to-morrow.

Gisborne, Hay ];!, Rntenc. aged M years, was convicted and discharged of an unnatural offence Joe Ililey, a Maori, was aopiitied on a charge of horse stealing. David lilvthe Meliwnn was found guilty of (he same offence, and sentence was d fenwl till to-morrow. Christchurch, May ill.

At (he Supreme Court to-day. 'Manilas Coogan, for breaking and entering, was sentenced to twelve months. Walter Lewis Smith, for'assaulting a fill on Waikaro on March 2», and rubbing her of £:i :) s (Id, was sentenced to three years hard labor. Accused had served sentences for assault in Australia. Andrew I'dward Ward was found guiltv of obtaining sums of £5 and CM from a women by false pretences. .As Cere was another indictment against accused (he Judge deferred passing Kaiteme. The (irand Jury found no bill iu the cases of William Barnard Rhodes Itoorbouse and I'Mith .Mathcson Mulznrd.