SUPREME COURT.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 257, 10 March 1898, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SESSIONS. At Auckland on Tuesday the following cases were dealt with : Albert Edward Frost, a mere boy, was found guilty of theft, sentence being deferred, to see if the prisoner would give informstion as to the whereabouts of the spoil, which had been stolen from two Austrian gumdiggers. Robert Levett and James Nathan Troy were each sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour for breaking and entering and theft. The Grand Jury brought in no bill against Charles Robert Auderson committed for theft at Port Albert, aud he was discharged. A true bill was found against Pohlen for the wilful murder of Patrick Corcoran at Harapipi, and it was agreed to take the case on to-morrow (Friday).

(by telegraph.—own correspondent). Auckland, Last Night. A young Maori man, named Ngohe Ngohe, was charged with having at Kihikihi, Waikato, on December 9th. broken and entered the premises of George Maunder, licensee of the Star Hotel, and stolen therefrom 22 bottles of liquor, including 12 bottles of whisky. The prisoner pleaded not guilty. Evidence was given by George Maunder, Theresa Maunder, Arthur Hollingshed, J. Cribb, Basil Hawkins, W. H. Clark, and Constable Carroll, and went to show that the prisoner rode iuto Kihikihi and put up at the Star Hotel. He told Maunder he was going to Par&wera the next morning, but instead of doing so he loft early in the morning for Otorohanga, taking a quantity of liquor from the bar. Hollingshed met him on the road to Otorohanga. The prisoner had then a heavy swag on his horse and avoided witness when the latter spoke to him, and rode into the scrub at the side of the road Cribb, a billiard-marker at Otorohanga, said Ngohe Ngohe, after returning from Kihikihi, gave him a flask of whisky and brandy, and told him he could Keep it. The witness handed the flask to Constable Carroll. The prisoner got some empty kerosene cases from witness, and said he wanted them to put 24 bottles in. The case is not concluded. George Croft Hnddlestone, late magazine keeper employed by the Government, in charge of the powder magazine at Mount Eden, was brought up for sentence on four charges of embezzling money, his total defalcations amounting to £222 13s 6d. The accused pleaded guilty. Mr F. Earl appeared for the accused, and made an appeal for clemency. Hnddlestone, he said, was a man of good family, who had giren way to temptation lately through pressure of circumstances, but who had for manj years borne an excellent character and was respected and liked by everyone. He had served for a number of years in the Armed Constabulary Force, and rose to the rank of Sergeant-Major. The prisoner had reason to believe he was entitled to a retiring al'owanca of about £276, and as his defalcations did not amount to more Chan £220 the Govern meot would be the gainer by the fact of the man being a defaulter, thus forfeiting his retiring allowance. Mr Justice Connolly admitted accused to probation for twelve tvonths.