SUPREME COURT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2055, 5 June 1890, Page 1

SUPREME COURT.

The Supreme Courts of Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin opened last Monday. In Auckland, Justice Conolly, said the list contained several serious chargee. One is a charge of rape on a girl under 14, in which consent was admitted ; one a charge of committing an unnatural offence, where the prisoner gave himself up l© the police ; several forgery cases ; and one of malicious injury to property. In Wellington, John Fergussou, alias Alexander Menzies, pleaded guilty to the larceny of a watch, and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Richard Hicks pleaded guilty to forgiog a promissory note, and sentence was deferred pending receipt of the probation officer’s report. George Smith, for burglary, after a trial lasting well into the evenfug, was acquitted, llu Dunedin, James Turner, John Turner, James Smith and James Kerney pleaded guilty to stealing rabbit skins. They were admitted to probation for

twelve months and ordered to contribute towards the '.'cost;; of the prosecution. Selina Callaghan, nineteen years ofage, for forging a cheque was similarly dealt with, Amy Rock pleaded guilty to several chrfrges of systematic swindling, and was sentenced to .three years’ imprisonment. Michael Murphy and Jonn t Chapman were found not guilty of ,a 1 charge of assault and robbery. Alex. Rogers was found guilty of embezzlement and was sentenced to six months, Emma Parnell was found guilty of larceny and sentenced to two years’imprisonment. Thomas Barrett charged, with attempted murder, occupied the Court the most of the day. The evidence was that an old man named Woods, who had previously been on bad terms with Barrett, was assaulted on his way home on a dark night, beaten yery severely, and his horse and dray backed Over a precipice, falling twenty feet, the horse having its back broken. Woods managed to crawl to the,, schoplbouEe, where he remained all night, and for some time his life was despaired of. Barrett was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years’ penal servitule. He left the court, protesting his innocence.