SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 304, 18 May 1911, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

AUCKLAND SESSIONS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Wednesday. At the Supreme Court, Austin Walker, charged with theft from the hospital, was admitted to probation for two years conditional on his not going on a racecourse, making a wager, or being in a public house. Thomas Leonard Eastern,! for breaking, entering and theft at Gis-i borne, was sentenced to one year's imprisonment and five years' reformative treatment. Walter George Edward Wheeler, for forgery ond uttering, wa»! sentenced to reformative treatment fori three years. Frank Albert Cooper, fo» ; breach of the Bankruptcy Act, and incurring debts without reasonable expectations of being able to pay them and failing to keep proper books, was sentenced to six months' hard labor. Cooper was previously bankrupt in Wellington. CHRISTCHURCH SESSIONS. Christchurch, Wednesday. At the Supreme Court this morning, Frederick Cullen, who had married his niece, charged with having made a false declaration to the registrar, pleaded that he did not know the marriage was within the prohibited degrees. Accused, who is 26 years of age, and haa passed the sixth standard in a State school, declared that he was ignorant of any law preventing marriage even with a sister. Counsel made the point that the only list of prohibited degrees open to the public was in the Anglican prayer book. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty. Christchurch, Last Night. At the Supreme Court to-day, George Henry Carlyle, on a charge of incest, was sentenced to five years'. Harry Lee, committed on the'theft of £l3 from the person, received twelve mouths. Norman Ramsay, on several charges of bicycle stealing, was sentenced to six months' on each charge, to run concurrently.

WELLINGTON SESSIONS. Wellington, Last Night. At the Supreme Court to-day William James Hamilton was acquitted on a charge of assaulting Francis McCann at the Wellington Opera House. William John Carpenter was charged with assaulting Nicholas Richard Normile so as to cause him bodily harm. Both men had been employed on the steamer Tainui. Prisoner admitted the assault, but pleaded provocation, and that he had acted in self-defence. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, with a recommendation to mercy. His Honor the Chief Justice said he believed the assault was committed in sudden heat and was not premeditated. Prisoner would be fined £2O. It was subsequently stated that tlie amount of the fine had been subscribed in Court. DUNEDTN SESSIONS.

Dunedin, Last Night. At the Supreme Court criminal sittings, the afternoon was occupied in hearing charges against Frances Elizabeth Bell of theft of goods belonging to the Drapery Importing Company, and the case for the Crown was only concluded when the time for adjournment was reached.