SUPREME COURT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 82, 4 September 1869, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

(Condensed from the " Daily Times.") Wednesday, Ist September. (Before His Honour Mr. Justice Ward). TRUE BILLS. The Grand Jury found true bills in all the cases sent to them except in those of William R. Speid, charged with embezzlement at Otepopo, and Charles Jackson, charged with larceny, in which they found "no true bills." THE ALLEGED LIBBL CASE. Mr. Barton said he desired to mention the case of Regina v. Hennjngham. No indictment had been filed, and his Honor had not, as yet, mentioned the case. His Honour said he understood that it was not the intention of the prosecutor to .prefer any indictment during the present session. Mr. Barton intimated that there were a number of witnesses in attendance, and they desired £o be allowed to leave the Court for that day, on account of the mail leaving. His Honour thought that, under the circumstances, the witnesses might safely

leave the Court for that day. If, however, an indictment were preferred, then, of course due notice ■would, be given, and the same indulgence ihai was extended to the witnesses would be granted to the defendant . If no indictmen t were preferred, he would be discharged for want of prosecntion, and the whole proceedings would fall to the ground. WOUNDING WITH INTENT TO KILL. John Wardens alias Gallagher, aged 22 years, was informed against for having, at the Marewhenua diggings, on the 16th June last, wilfully, maliciously, and with malice aforethought, assaulted James Craig, with intent to murder. There was a second count charging the prisoner with assault with intent to disable, and a third count, with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The prisoner, who pleaded " Not Guilty," was undefended. The jury retired to consider their verdict at a quarter-past one o'clock, and on coming into Court, after an absence of about two hours, returned a verdict of guilty on the second count. His Honour commented severely on the atrocity of the crime, and sentenced tho prisoner to 15 years' penal servitude. FORGERY AT DUNEDIN. James Leslie was charged with having forged a cheque for £3 10s. There was also a second count, charging him with having uttered the same. The prisoner pleaded " Not Guilty." Found guilty of forgery, and sentenced to penal servitude for 4 years. CHAEGE OF OBTAINING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENCES. John Paterson Dent was charged with the above-mentioned offence. This case arose out of the last disposed of. The prisoner was charged with having passed the cheque, forged by Leslie, to Mr. Seeger, of the Rainbow Hotel. He stated that the cheque was all right, but on being requested to write his name on the cheque, he wrote " Thomas Anderson." Acquitted. lAKCENY AS A BAILEE. William John Speedy pleaded " Not Guilty " to a charge of having misappropriated £1 10 a , and other sums, belonging to Ellen Marriott. The prisoner, in extenuation of his offence, pleaded that he got drunk, and could not say what had become of the money ; that nothing was further from his intention than the misappropriation of it, and that there was no person in Lawrence who took greater trouble in the collecting of it than he did, having for several weeks devoted his attention to nothing else. He certainly admitted that he was Avrong in not having acqnainted the proper parties of the loss which he sustained, but he had been in hoji'js of being able to refund the money. His Honour remarked that it was for the jury to say whether such a lame defence would have the slightest weight with them. The evidence showed that it was the duty of the prisoner to pay the money to the treasurer of the fund. He received the money he was charged with misappropriating, and according to his own account he retained it for several weeks, and then,- as he alleged, lost it. He had seldom heard a more lame attempt to justify an offence. His Honour referred to the evidence, and concluded by alluding to the law as applicable to the case. The jury found the prisoner guilty , and he was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. Thursday, 2nd September. Arthur Dimmock, charged with stealing a watch, &c. from Mr. Richard A. Strickland, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment. Edward Francis Cogan, found guilty of embezzling various sums of money belonging to his late master, Mr. William Strachan, brewer, Pittstreet, was remanded for sentence until yesterday ; as was also James Madigan, convicted of committing a violent assault upon William Boucher at the Maori Kaik.