THE COURTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 95, 30 July 1910, Page 4

THE COURTS.

WIDOWS VICTIMISED. A BAD CASE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. At the Christchurph Magistrate's Court to-day, Thomas McMillan, about thirty years of age, pleaded guilty to two charges of having obtained money and valuables under false pretences. The police stated that the accused, who was married but li\ ing apart trom his wife, inserted an advertisement in the L 'ttelton Times for a housekeeper, describing himself as a sheep-farmer of South Canterbury. Two applicants for the position, ooth widows, were enticed into considerable correspondence, as the outcome of which the accused is said to have obtained £ls in money and a gold, watch *nd jewellery from one, and £3 and a gold watch from the second, and to the former he offered marriajge. Tbe ceremony was to have taken place on Wednesday. At the last moment tfie accused made'the excuse that lis mother was d v ing <it Wellington, and booked a pa sage to Wellington, but was srmted before the boat left Lytteltoa. The Chief Detective said tbe c»3? was one of th<j worst ever before the Court. McMillan was ueitan; id t> six jboa'ps* imprisonment on. easu charge.

AN APPEAL DISMISSED. Wellington, Yesterday. Tn the case of Shortland 'Flat MiningCo. v. Dawson, the Appeal Court, unanimously dismissed the appeal with eoste on the middle scale as froan a distance. Respondent had applied to have his name removed from the share list, and his application monqy returned, on the ground that the provisions of the' Companies Act had not been complied with as to allotment and minimum subscription. It was contended that no prospectus had been issued, and .that the company hadt the right to proceed as it had done. The Court held, kowever, that the application form issued by brokers with the consent of the company amounted to a prospectus. HABITUAL CRIMINAL APPEAL. Wellington, Yesterday. The 'Appeal Court to-day heard the case Rex v. Lewis. The 'latter was declared a habitual criminal by the Auckland Court. Two of his previous convictions were by a magistrate, and only two were upon indictments, ilie question is, whether the former can be counted. Judgment was reserved. A DISTURB!® PINED. ♦ Dunedin, Yesterday. John McKenna was fined £lO for obstructing the police during the recent Saturday night disturbance. The magistrate, Mr. Bartholomew, commended Constable Sweeney for his coolness and manliness.