SUPREME COURT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1838, 8 January 1889, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

CfIMPTCHirKCH, January 7. 1 The Supreme Court criminal sittings openod to-day. Mr Justice Ward, in charging the Grand Jury, said it was a matter for regret that there was a long calendar. The absence of any very serious charge was a matter for congratulation, especially the absence of disgraceful crimes ngainst women so frequent at former criminal sessions. Referriog to the case against Bain, indicted for libel, Judg6 Ward said: "The accused is charged with having published a libel on Mr Ollivier in his capacity of Resident Magistrate. The publication will be clearly proved. You will have to decide whether it attributes to Mr Ollivier corrupt conduct in his official capacity. There can bo ro question that the decision of Judge or Magistrate form fair subjects of comment and discussion in the press. Mistakes may be pointed out and the infliction of penalties, the sayings of Judges, and the general conduct of the Court fairly commented upon, but if words are written and published attributing to the Magistrate corruption io the execution i of bis office, there c«u be no question that such are indictable." Powell, for stoaling a bicycle, was ' sentenced to six monthp. The Maori burg'ar, Murray, shortened the proceedings considerably, when charged with breaking into various bouses and shops at Riccarton, Lyttelton and Kuiapoi, by saying : " Npt iTiuch. I ran aw«y from gaol and I took tbem things.' He was sentenced to five years penal servitude, to run concurrently, on several indictments. Dunedin, Jan. 7. At the Criminal Sitting* no bill was returned in the case of Joseph Wilson nnd Ernest Dryden, two boys charged with housebreaking. Margaret Mary Belinda Todd, 8n elderly woman, against whom there were many prerious convictions for vagrancy and false pretences in the Canterbury district, was sentenced to three yearß for false pretences. Harry Conn pleaded guilty to horse-stealing and was liberated for twelve months under the Probation Act and ordered to pay half-a-crown a week towards the expenses of the prosecution. Thomas Gleeson, now being tried, his pleaded guilty to prieoa breaking and several burglaries committed during the few days be was at large, and not guilty to several offences for which he was under committal at the time of his escape from gaol.