SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 153, 15 November 1912, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

WELLINGTON SESSIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association Wellington, Thursday. William Knox, who was found guilty of performing an illegal operation, was to-day sentenced to five years' imprisonment with hard labor. The Chief Jusin sentencing the prisoner, who has a wife and two children, said there was. no evidence that Knox had been guilty of the crime in a systematic manner; otherwise the sentence would have been much severer. Some girls appeared to think that it was more shameful to give birth to an illegitimate child than to undergo an operation of the class in question. It was unfortunate for girls if they fell away, but it was a thousand times better that they should have illegitimate children than submit to operations of this kind. Society should recognise this. The Legislature had recognised the gravity of this crime by maWmg punishment imprisonment for life. Had it not been for the rule laid down, His Hbpor said lie might have been inclined to give a lower, sentence, but looking at all the circumstances he did not think he could. John Ivorako Rini pleaded guilty to a charge of forgery, and was admitted to probation for twelve months, conditionally on his taking out a prohibition order against himself and making restitution. CHRISTCHURCH SESSIONS. Christchurch, Last Night. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court concluded to-day. James Madder, on two charges- of assault, causing actual bodily harm, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. Ernest Stryghtcm was found not guilty of a charge of alleged unlawful carnai knowledge. Thomas Francis Hickey, similarly charged, was also found not guilty. Leo Arthur Arnold Copcland Boranoff, on two charges of alleged theft, was sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment, the sentences to be concurrent. Mabel Mona Parker, for alleged perjury, was too ill to appear, and was ordered to come up for sentence when called on.