SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 30 May 1907, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

Per Press Association. Dunedin, May 20. The Criminal Sittings have concluded. John Johnston was sentenced to five years' imprisonment on several charges of exposing an indecent postcard to a number of young women. The evidence tendered showed that, though not insane, he was a degenerate. Auckland, May 20. The hearing of charges against Arthur Harris of criminally assaulting and abducting a girl under 10 years of age, was continued this morning. Among the witnesses called by the prosecution was a married woman living at Devonpurt. She said that accused got some food from her one morning in January, and remarked that he had run away with a girl. Witness asked who the girl' was, and what was her age, the prisoner replying, "She is fifteen and.a half; flic will be sixteen in June." Mr. London opened the case for lb.' defence by brioily addressing the jury. The accused was then called. He was he said 20 years of age a fortnight after he left the employ of ' prosecutrix's father, lie wrote informing her that he did not wish to have anything more to do with her. She subsequently sent a letter stating she would meet him at an hotel in Karaugahape Road, and she did so. They went to the Domain, ami witness asked her to go home, but sir refused. Witness therefore stayed with her. Continuing his evidence, accused said the girl told him she would follow him everywhere. They went to the North Shore because she said she could stay with someone there, but upon arriving ut Devonport prosecutrix declared she knew nobody. As he had no money the ferry fares were paid by the girl, lie denied having told the Devonport witness he knew the girl's age to be fifteen and a half. His impression gained in a conversation with the prosecutrix was that she was over sixteen. Cross-examined by Mr. Tole, accused said lie was so tormented by prosecutrix that at last he "made up" to her, though he was very unwilling.

Wiinganui, May 20. At (lie Supreme Court to-day a young man named McLean was found not guilty on a charge of forging a cheque The .fudge said this was the most extraordinary case that had mine under his personal notice. Accused ami two companions, named Whale and Foster, went to an hotel, and a clieque was tendered in payment for a driufc. The liotelkecper could not swenr which of the three tendered the cheque. Foster said he saw a cheque passed over the counter, but could not say who passed it. White and accused each swore that he did not see a cheque tendered. The Judge said the jury had no option but to find a verdict of not guilty.