SUPREME COURT.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 260, 17 March 1898, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SESSIONS. (IJV TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT). Auckland, Last Night. Ist the case of Albert Edward Frost, who was charged with having stolen n large sum of money and a quantity of gum from the wlvirea of Austrian gumdiggers at YVaihopo, near Parengarcnga, the Judge had deferred passing sentence to allow the prisoner an opportunity of giving information which would lead to the recovery of the stolen money, a large amount of which is still missing. The prisoner, however, said he knew nothing about the missing money. His Honor said he had no doubt a large sum of money was missing, and that some £l5O was " planted " away somewhere ; he would pass a sentence of some severity, but at the same time he would tell the prisoner that it he would yet make some amends by disclosing where the stolen money was he would join in a recommendation for the remission of the sentence. Fiost would be sentenced to eighteen months' hard labour. Mary Ratnsbottom, a young girl of attractive appearance and apparently net mere than about eighteen years of age, appeared to answer the charge that on June 3rd, 1897, at Long Bay, near Coromandel, she did murder one Eleanor Gladys Rimsbottom, her infant illegiti mate child. The girl was defended by Mr Theo. Cooper and pleaded not guilty. Mr J. A. Tole conducted the case for the prosecution. He said the girl was accused of having left her infant, an illegitimate child a few months old, to die in the bush near Coromandel. The skeleton was found there some time afterwards. From the information contained .in the confession made by the accused the juiy returned a verdict guilty of manslaughter. His Honor in sentencing the girl said : "Prisoner, you have been exceedingly fortunate in that the jury have taken such a lenient view of your case. They would have been quite justified in aniviug at a different verdict, which would have placed your life in danger. You have been in great peril. 1 can hardly imagine under the circumstances how you could be guilty of such cruelty as to leave your unfortunate child to die of starvation. The sentence of the court is that you be imprisoned with hard labour for two years.