SUPREME COURT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 186, 16 November 1910, Page 5

SUPREME COURT

CHRISTCHURCH SESSIONS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. John Layman Mitchell, indicted, on two charges, one of having committed an unnatural offence, and the other of inde- ' cent assault, was found guilty on the last-mentioned count. His Honor deferred passing sentence, as other indictments against the same prisoner are pending. SEXUAL' OFFENCES. Wellington, Last Night. At the Supreme Court to-day, John Taylor, a middle-aged man, was charged with having carnally known a female under the age of ten years, of attempting to know the same female, and of unlawful assault upon the child. The jury found the accused guilty of attempted carnal knowledge, and suggested that the child and her sister be removed to more congenial surroundings. His Honor agreed. He would refer the matter to the Society for the Protection of Women and Children. Mr. Neave informed the Court that the children had already been committed to a receiving home. The prisoner was remanded until Saturday for sentence. A young man named Ernest Edwin Thompson was charged with having, at Palmerston North, attempted to unlawfully procure a certain noxious thing, knowing the same was intended to be ; unlawfully used with intent to procure miscarriage. After hearing the evidence, ■ ■ during which it transpired that though • • the prisoner had procured the medicine, » he had not actually given it to the girl, His Honor directed the jury to find a verdict, of guilty. He sakl he was doubt- v ful whether any offence had been disclosed, hut in order that there should .) be no trouble, and that the matter .V-s should be decided in fairness and jus- 1 tice, he proposed to refer the question to the Court of Appeal, to let it decide this point of law. Accused was allowed ' out on bail on his o\vn recognisance in the meantime. ,> ALLEGED BURGLARY AND THEFT. - * Wellington, Last Night. 1 Three youths, John Earnslaw, Henry | Robert Hunt and Leslie Ellis, denied ,-j charges of having broken and entered the Levin Hotel with intent to commit a crime therein, and of having broken \ and entered the hotel and stolen a safe -.<« valued at £ls. and contents thereof, in- :j| eluding £fiO 13s 3%d in money, cheques 'ij amounting to £55 9s fld, five gold ryigs valued at £23 10s, a gold y»in a| £<3, a gold watch and chain ..'Jj £lO, and various other articles. 'Jgg were several subsidiary, case for the prosecutioivv^ • pleted when the