SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 129, 22 May 1908, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

AUCKLAND SESSIONS Per Press Association. ! Auckland, Thursday. 11l the Supreme Court Thomas Charles Bridson was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for violating four little girls. Judge Edwards said: "I want to impose a sentence which will strike terror into the heart of evil-doers of your class, whose numbers appear unfortunately to be increasing in the city." Auckland, Last Night. At the Supreme Court to-day Henry Herbert Ainori, convicted of stealing a portmanteau, was sentenced to three year.s with hard labor. Charles Edgcombe and Daniel iluriii, charged with aiding and abetting a man named Walker in forging and uttering a cheque, were found not guilty and discharged. Edward Kirby, a miner, of Waihi, found , guilty of assaulting a little gh'l> was remanded for sentence.

DUNEDIN SESSIONS. j Dunedin, Last Night. In the slander case, in the Supreme Court, llowatt v. Bolhings, arising out of the Nortli-East Valley mayoral contest, claim for £.'>oo, judgment went for defendant with costs. Judge Williams said Bothings' conduct was absolutely without reproach, and be was sorry the action had been brought. The only effect was to give the whole world the fact that there was an unfounded slander against the plaintiff. If he had suffered, it was his own fault.

CtmiSTCHURCH SESSIONS. Christchurch .Last Night. At the Supreme Court to-day, James Thomson was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for attempting to set lire to the Cafe de Paris Hotel buildmg 011 February 13th. The Crown Prosecutor said there wa.s grave reason to believe that accused had been concerned in other attempts at fire-raising which occurred on the same night. David Whvtock, a middle-aged man, was .sentenced to live years' imprisonment for indecent assault. George E. Fleming was acquitted 011 a charge of perjury.

WELLINGTON SESSIONS. Wellington, Last Night. Roderick MeKcn/.ie was found guilty at the Supreme Court to-iUty ol having assaulted two young girls. He wis re-1 uiunded for sentence. Ayallaee Herbert Stewurt whs charged with forging a luune to a receipt. The jury found him guilty of uttering the receipt, but considered it was not done with criminal intent. His Iloflor Mr. Justice Chapjnian said lie would have to consider the effect of the verdict, and it' was possible he might have to refer the question to the Court of Appeal, lie would express his opinion on the mutter the following illuming. 11" 011 consideration he was clearly of opinion the verdict was one of guilty he would have to act. John Sidney tlenes was charged with stealing ,tll>) from a deaf and duinh lii-.iii named David Sutherland, since, deceased, 011 May 27til, 1007. The evidence ■ was not concluded when (lie Court lose | for the day.