SUPREME COURT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2209, 2 June 1891, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

AwcxLASh, June 1.

Thi crimnil sittings of the Supreme Coart opened this morning, la his charge to the Grand Jar j Judge Con* aolly remarked on the small number of indictments, hot pointed out that there were two serious charges, one of murder and one of embezzlement. The latter was especially serious as be* ing against a public official— O’Halloran, who has been postmaster and receiver of property tax at Whangarei. The Grand Jury found true bills against John Genry Taylor, for larceny. On pleading guilty he was sentenced to 12 months,also against Gustave Petersen, who pleaded guilty of burglary and got 12 months. WELLuroroir, June 1. The Supreme Court criminal session was opened this morning, Chief Justice Frendergast presiding. The calendar contains the tunes of ten persons, the charges for the most part of ordinary character. Beferring to the case against Coleman Phillips for dummy* ism, His Honour said that there were two indictments, (1) Inciting certain persons to make wilful false declarations, and (2) aiding and abetting j them to commit a breach of the Land w Act. After reviewing at 'length the ' evidence taken in the lower Court the learned judge said although he had gone very carefully through the Act he could find nothing expressed in ] its provisions to prevent anyone taking up land for another. This however was a point of law, and he directed the Grand Jury if they thought the facts warranted it to bring m a Bill against Phillips and leave the point for argument when the case came before the common jury. His Honour remarked that the Legislature were evidently under the impression that, they had made provision in the Act to pretent persons obtaining land on deferred payment or perpetual base not exclusively for their own use, as section IS had fixed a penalty to be inflicted in the case of anyone taking up land other than for his own use.

Amy Jackson, alias Brooks, for v larceny at Palmerston North, was ' sentenced to 12 months hard labor. Chbistchuuoh, June I.

The ’ Supreme Court' Criminal Sessions opened this morning before Judge Dennistoun. A thole Stewart Lamb pleaded guilty to four charges of forgery; sentence was deferred. Thomas Gormon charged with unlawfully wounding, was found guilty with a recommendation to mercy on account of the absence of premeditation. His Honor said, looking at all the circumstances, he would inflict a comparatively light sentence of 12 months* hard labor. Samuel Northey, forgery and uttering, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to two years hard labor. Dunedin - , June 1. Judge Williams’ charge deal, with the calendar, which is unusually light. George Clark pleaded guilty to the charge of embezzling the funds of the Prince of Wales Lodge, M.U., at Port Chalmers. The prisoner was sentenced to three years’ penal servitude. Walter Spuirling was sentenced to 12 months’ hard labor for false pretences, and Christopher Conway to six weeks for breaking his probation. Jas. Curry and Roderick McKenzie received two years for assault and robbery, and Jas. Biddle 18 months* for burglary.

A A lady was admiring one of the fine thick-fleeced rams in the sheep exhibit at the Melbourne stock show, and asked the rustic in charge; “ What does that sheep weigh?” "About 2801 b,” replied the Yermonter. “It isn’t all wool then,” said a bystander, jokingly “ No, of course hot,” replied the attendant. “ What,” .spoke up the third man, in an entirely earnest tone, "is it part cotton, then?”

JAPANESE SLATE-GIRLS IN AMERICA. “ Slavery in this country,” said the Chicago Evening Post, “ has, I suppose, been abolished, and the sale of human-beings with it.” Perhaps such is the case, mused Henry Slocntn, of Pekin, China, at the Palmer House. “ During my mouth’s stay in San Francisco not long ago I saw something that set me to thinking. An acquaintance asked me one morning if I didn’t want to see a sale of some choice Japs. Having nothing else in view, and being an admirer of Japanese bric-a-brae, to which 1 supposed he referred, I readily consented. It was a richly-furnished house to which my friend conducted me, and gathered in a large parlor were several wellknown citizens and a number of brazen-looking old women. All had their wraps and overcoats en, and appeared to be waiting for something. I looked around to see the bric-a-brac, but nothing beyond the ordinary adornments of such a parlor was visible save a platform raised about 4ft above the floor. As I turned to ask my friend its meaning the foldingdoors at the farther end of the parlor were thrown open, and through them came about twenty young Japanese girls, none of them more than sixteen years old. “It was with evident reluctance they entered the room, and most of them hid their faces in their hands. It was no wonder, poor things, for their only clothes were those which Nature bad given them. Thunderstruck, I demanded of my friend an explanation. He replied in a matter-of-fact wap that the girls, who by this time were on the platform, had just arrived here from Japan, whence they had been enticed by unscrupulous wretches with promises of easy and remunerative employment. It was only after they had entered the house that they had learned their fate, my friend teld me. They rebelled at first, but the alternative of being turned adrift in a strange country, without money or knowledge of the language, induced them to remain- ■' My heart ached for them, but I was helpless. They were auctioned off to the proprietresses of the better class of resorts of San Francisco, from 40dol up to SOOdol apiece being paid for them. , My friend informed me that such sales occurred every month or two, but that nothing jwas done to prevent them.”