SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9170, 19 August 1908, Page 5

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

CHRISTCHURCH. BY TELEGRAPH FREfcS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, August 18. At the Supreme Court, to day, Leonard Sutherland, found guilty of forgery, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. Charlotte EPzjbeth Moraghan was indicted for that, on. April 18th last, at Ashburton, she committed the crime of bigamy by marrying Geo. Wanacctt. htr husband James Stephen Moraghan being still alive. His Honor put the issue to the jury, "Whether, when accused went through ihe second marriage ceremony, she had honest and reasonable belief that her husband was dead." After a retirement of about half an hour, the jury returned with the answer "No" to tbe issue submitted, with the addition that the jury wished His Honor to deal leniently wi-h accused. His Honor said that the jury's answer was equivalent to a verdict or guilty. Addressing accused, His Honor said that she had no doubt been guilty in law of bigamy. After referring to the serious aspects of the crime in certain circumstances, His Honor said that, though in the pre sent case the jury had properly found that the woman had acted recklessly, and though there were suspicious circumstances connected with the second marriage ceremony, there appeared to have been some suggestion that her first husband was dead. ' He thought he would be giving full effect to the recommendation of the jury if he ordered accused to enter into her own recognisances to come up far sentence when called on. Thomas Vickery was indicted for that, on May '2lst last, in the Magistrate's Court at Oxford, he com mitted perjury. After a retirement of twenty minutes the jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and the accused was discharged. John Page was indicted on a charge that he committed perjury in a case heard at the Magistrate's Oourc Ch-.Lstchurch, on May 10th last. The <.-use was not finished whsn toe Court r.ise for the day. WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, August 18. William Gunn McKay was found guilty at the Supreme Court, to-day, of stealing clothing from the steamer Blenheim. He was remanded for sentence.