TELEGRAPHIC.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3383, 11 December 1889, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

j SUPREME COUAT. ./ TiMiiiu, December 10. " The Supreme Court opened before Mr Justice Dennistou, who remarked tbat the calender of six cases might be considered satisfactory. P. Birrell, convicted last session of embezzlement of tlio Deputy A asigueo's funds, nhich, conviction was coufirmed by the Court of Appeal, also ploaded guilty to two other charges, and was seutinced, to two years' hard labour, on each, to run concurrently. The sentence was made light on account of his age, 64, His counsels stated in mitigation of the penalty, that Birrell had practically done all the work of the office for five years, and had received as remuneration only £336, while he had paid £B4O for clorical assistance, The business of the office had been carelessly.conducted, and he yielded to .temptation. His total defalcations are stated to be £I7OO. A Temuka half-caste named Eussell, aged 15, ploaded guilty to stealing a horse and saddle, and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. William Giles Tomlih, charged with perjury m the Kesident Magistrete Court at Waimate, in denying his signature to a prommisaory note, . dated liiruary, 1886, was acquitted as a simple-minded man who trusted to his memory, and who had forgotten signing. W. Pickett, a Peruvian, charged with voting twice at the recent Qamara election," was found guilty, "but' without intention tobreik'tho law." The Judge took time to consider the verdict... The accused was sworn, and stated that after voting twice he was asked to vote again, and run up to another booth, and did not know if was wrong to voto in another place. An elderly man named Clave (or Cleave) was sentenced to 12 months' hard labour for carnally knowing a girl under 14. He ■ had the' girl (above IS) living with him some months, and when her relatives put her into a situation he took her away and passed her offashis daughter, finally bringing himself under the law cited. Napier, Dec 10.

At the Supreme Court to-day Uo men, named Hankin and Watson, wore found guilty of forging and uttering a cheque for £SO; sentonca was deferred. .-"A, youth named Hawthorne, who pleaded guilty to horso-stealing, was admitted to probation. . The Grand Jury threw out the bills against W. F. Knight, a J.P., and his shepherd, Robertson', for shooting wild horses to which a Maori-laid claim, also against the youth named liutton; who wae charged with stabbing another boy in a fight. Adcklanu, December 10.

To-day, at tho Supreme Court, the following sentences were imposed:— John Pearson, for larceny of a watch and chain, six months' imprisonment; John Giles, for attempted rape, four yoars' penal servitude; George Har. vey; for larceny as a bailee, James Nicholls, for malicious wounding, 12 months' bard labor each. • The recent stabbiiig affray on board the Lurliue on her voyage from London to Auckland* was■ also before the Court, when James Nathaniel Howard, steward of the barque, was found guilty of having stabbed tho cook, Matthew Parsons. Sonteuce was deferred. '

IxvEßCAiidm,, JDoceuiber 10,

At tho Supreme Court this afternoon two country sottlers were tried for the larceny of a watch and chain lost by a lady on the street and picked up by them immediately after and disposed of without an attempt to find an owner or inform the police. Martin Silk, who picked up the watch was found guilty of larceny, and J. Vaile, who got the chain from Silk, guilty of receiving, knowing it to htivo been stolen. JBoth being previously ot good character, were admitted to nrobotion of nine months and ordered to pay the costs of tho prosecution, The criminal business is uow closed. The action of the New Zealand Loan Company v Wilson, Taiue and Co, for l|as boei) settled out of Court.

BIDDING AT WOOL SALES. Dunedin, December 10,. The woolbrokers met to-day to cousidev the petition of the farmers for a return to the system of bidding Jd at the wool sales. After a'general discussion, it was decided to confer wjth the buyers on the matter.

Shot tKrougli the Heart C.uiwcmjucij, Wiitlnosday, Gideon Withers, wall-known in business circles here, and manager £"MatsQ!iand Co was found dead in'hisofnco *L'« ""oruing thrpugl)t|)9 heart, No cause is as. yet given tor the act,. I

UNSUCCESSFUL SEAKCH, New Plymouth, Wednesday. Constables Eoclio and Soyniour, who have been searching the coast north and south of tho Wuikauwau river for tho body of the late Major Jackson, and have been unsuccessful, aro returning homc i .oyorland, epmining the beach' on the way," ".