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Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1919, Page 5

SUPREME COURT. AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Arthur James Ford and Thomas Evans, employed as night-watchmen at the .Defence stores, Buckle Street, were charged with the theft of a variety of articles from the stores. Evans pleaded not guilty, and Ford pleaded guilty to the theft of articles found in a bag he was carrying; when arrested. Among the witnesses for the prosecution was Ford, who. explained that he was under the influence of liquor on the night in question, and could remember little about the proceedings. Apparently the goods exhibited in the court liad been taken by him into a yard. Evans then cleared out with some of the goods, among which vug a roll of damask cloth. Counsel for the defence said that after the evidence given by Ford he did not intend calling any witnesses.

The jury returned after half an hour's absence and asked the Chief Justice Whether an accomplice in a case of theft could be held guilty. Mis Honor replied affirmatively. The jury, after another hour's absence, returned a verdict of not guilty. His Honor asked if the jury understood the charge he had given them. The foreman: Yes, sir. HI? Honor: I can only say it is the tnpst extraordinary case I ever had in my life, and I have been 20 years on the bench. Lawrence John Moloney pleaded guilty to breaking and entering and was remanded till Saturday for sentence.

DUNEDIN SESSIONS. Dunedin, Last Night. At the Supreme Court to-day Donald Forbes was found guilty of criminal assault on Mr. John Burt at Roxburgh, and acquitted on the count of causing actual bodily harm. Sentence was deferred. William Jones was ordered to come up for sentence when called on a. charge of arson, damages and costs having been paid. Daniel Henry Tucker was acquitted on a charge of improper relations with a girl under 16. Joseph French was toiuii guilty of obtaining £143 from Mary Garr by false pretences,