SUPREME COURTS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1642, 4 October 1887, Page 2

SUPREME COURTS.

Wellington, Oct. 3. The Supremo Court opened to-day. There are thirteen charges against fifteen prisoners. Many of the charges are of larceny and housebreaking, and for the most part of a petty character. True bills were found against the following Mary Miller, larceny from the person ; Leonard Tyler, two charges, breaking and entering; Robert Whitchurch, breaking and entering; Fred. C. Gurath, horse stealing. Duncan Beaton, wounding; Edward Elton alias Edmonds, breaking and entering. No bill was found against Robt, Mansfield and David Francis for larceny from the person. Mary Miller a as found guilty and sentence deferred. Christchurch, Oct. 3. The criminal sittings opened to-day before the Chief Justice, who, In his charge, said ; _ (l l flnd there are 21 persons, against whom there are 27 charges. The number, I believe, is rather greater than is usual at the criminal sittings here. 1 regret to find (hat amongst them are several youths—lads of 16, 17, 18, or 19 years of age, and that more than one of these appear to be returned as New Zealand born. These are features which are not by any means satisfactory. 1 regret also to state that there is no adequate means of dealing with persons of this age should they be convicted. They are toe , old for reformatories, and it is not desirable that they should be sent to gaol where there is no provision for classification. The probationary system, again, will not apply to these persons, because they require to be put under the control of some strict but well qualified master. There is no provision under which this can be done in New Zealand," Chas. Bilson pleaded guilty to larceny of a bicycle, and Jan. Stephenson to horse stealing. John Fisher was found guilty of breaking into and stealing. Sentences were deferred. Dunedin, Oct. 3.%—i At the Supreme Court, John Barrowmar pleaded guilty to horse stealing. Evidence was called to show that he is of weak intellect. His Honor said that on account of this evidence and the prisoner’* youth he would discharge him on hie own recognisance to come up for sentence when called upon. The Grand Jury threw out the bill against Craig, Hamilton, and Goldsmith for indecent assault. Wm. Morrison, for houaebreakmg, received three years, Wrn. Carey pleaded guilty to damaging property, and was sentenced to two months. John Mathesoo, for assaulting and robbing a Chinaman, was released on probation for three months, and otdered to contribute weekly instalments towards the prosecution.