SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 237, 25 February 1913, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

AUCKLAND SESSIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Monday. ■Robert Connor and Frank Rhodes,'old men. who were found guilty of assaulting little girls, were sentenced to three! years' imprisonment and live strokes of the lash. The .ludge said the gaol surgeon would be in attendance, and'would stop it if it was beyond the endurance, of the prisoners, lie said warnings were being given to this class of prisoner over and over again. It was clear the lash was the only practical punishment to suppress the offence. William Chas. Spriggs, a young mini, for a similar offence, received three years' imprisonment and ten lashes. In the case of Thomas Lock, aged 52, guilty of carnal knowledge of a girl under 10. the Judge said that owing to n flaw in the Crimes Act he was unable to order the, lash, although in the case of indecent assault, really a minor charge, he had that power. He sentenced the man to five years' imprisonment, and said he would make representation with the object of having the law amended. In sentencing Thomas Hammond, a young man. charged with an indecent assault on a little girl, Mr. Justice Edward said the grand jury had recommended him to make a representation which would result in an alteration of the law to provide for the use of the lash ijt such cases. He already had power to order a flogging, and intended in all these cases to inflict a flogging. The number of strokes in the present case was not an indication of the number which would be ordered in future. It would be materially increased and made a severe punishment, instead of only a severe warning. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and ten strokes of the lash.

ATTEMPTED WTFE MURDER. Nelson, Last Night. The Supreme Court sessions opened today before Justice Chapman. There are two criminal cases for trial. Robert Alfred Schwass. charged with (1) attempting to murder his wife by cutting her throat; (2) wounding and doing grievous bodily barm: and (3) assaulting her so as to cause grievous bodily harm, was found guilty on the second and third counts. In sentencing prisoner to ton venrs' imprisonment, the Judge said that he had seldom known of a more barbarous and cruel offence.