WELLINGTON SUPREME COURT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3049, 20 November 1908, Page 5

WELLINGTON SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SITTINGS,

The criminal sittings of the Wellington Supreme Court commenced yesterday before His Honor Mr Justice Cooper. A COUNTRY CASE. Theft of £4O from the dwelling of Neil O'Kane, near Tinui, beyond Masterton, was the nature of the charge preferred against a young man named Frank Christian Olsen, who said he found the money. There were also two minor counts against I accused. ;. According to O'Kane both he and accused were working in the neighbourhood of Tinui. They had a discussion about a working man saving money, and in order to prove thatjjsuch a thing was possible, informant drew four ten pound notes out of his pocket and showed them to accused. On a certain Sunday morning informant went from his own home to church, leaving the notes at home. When changing his clothes in the afternoon, to return to work, he discovered that the money was missing. Accused had been at the place that day. Witness saw him later in the day, and asked him if he knew anything about the money. He replied that be did not know anything at all about it. Accused gave evidence in his own behalf, and said that he found he money ten yards away from O'Kane's house, between 6.30 and 7 o'clock on the following Tuesday night. In cross-examination by Mr Myers prisoner said he did not like to give the money to Mjr O'Kane because the latter would think he stole it. And then prisoner was not absolutely certain that the notes belonged to O'Kane. He admitted that he had been previously convicted of theft and other offences. The jury deliberated for 15 minutes, and returned a verdict of "guilty" on the major count. His Honor said prisoner already had three previous convictions for dishonesty; another such conviction would qualify him for an indeterminate sentence. He would be sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, and the £4O would have to be returned to O'Kane. FORGERY AND UTTERING. A sentence of three years' imprisonment was passed on Robert Shannon, who pleaded guilty to charges of forgery and uttering and forgery at Masterton on 26th September. Prisoner submitted a statement to" the Court, and admitted having already served terms of irnprisonment. " You are on the high road to be declared an habitual criminal," observed his Honour. 'lf you serve this commit another crime, you will have qualified for it." His Honour went on to say that probably, as was suggested, prisoner hart given way to drink. Many men committed a career of dishonest crime by giving way to drink in the first instance. He agreed to so™.e e:;t?r.t with prisoner when he 9aiu tint the carelessness With which people gave blank cheques out had a bearing on the case. But that was n« reason why Shannon should commit forge~y. He had admitted two previous convictions for forgery, and two for theft. When he came cut- -for his own sake—he had better lead an honest life. If he did not he would go back to prison for an indeterminate sentence. By Telegraph—Press AssDciation. WELLINGTON, November 19. John Patrick Collins, rf young man. was found guilty of stealing a gold watch and chain from the person of Charles Stuart at Otaki. He was remanded for sentence. An old man named Thomas Inchey, charged with indecent assault, was found guilty with a recommendation to mercy. He was remanded for sentence. George Leitch, alias Leech, was convicted of forging a money order receipt. The jury recommended accused to mercy on the ground that accused had yielded to a sudden temptation. Sentence was deferred.