SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 24 August 1907, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

LATEST telegrams

Per Press Association. Dunedin, August 23. The Supreme Court criminal »ittin"S concluded to-day, when, after a two days' trial, Thomas Millar was found guilty of arson and sentenced to "ivc years' hard labor. Prisoner asserted his innocence before leaving the dock.

THE CRIME OF PERJURY.

Per Press Association.

Wellington, August 23. A private prosecution occupied the Supreme Court to-ilay, Gustaf Grenberg, who_ was a police, witness in the cases arising out of the recent 'trouble in a "two-up" school, being charged with pjrjury at the instance of Charles Dunn. The perjury was deposed to by seven witnesses. The defence was made tint there was no intention to defeat th°. ends of justice, Grenberg having been' •'mad drunk" when the occurrence took place, and having no recollection of them when he became sober. The jury brought in a verdict of guilty. Mr Justice Cooper said he could not entertain an application for probation. He had made a rule that he would not give probation in crises of perjury. He looked upon perjury as a very serious offence indeed, for it struck at the roots of the administration of justice. A certain part of the public seemed not to recognise the enormity of the offence of perjury. His Honor would take into consideration Grenberg'a pervious good character, but sentence must be an exemplary one. He must go to prison for oigliteen months.

Masterton, August 23. At the District Court to-day, befortv Judge Haselden, Richard Reeves and| Henry Edward Shine pleaded not guilty to a charge of committing perjury in the Magistrate's Court. The perjured evidence was given during the hearing of a case of theft against Reeves, in which Shine was a witness, and Reeves gave evidence on his own behalf. The jury found both accused guilty, and each -was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment with hard labor.