SUPREME COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4059, 10 March 1892, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

: WELLINGTON.—MONDAY, (Before Hia Honour Jlv Justice Richmond,) ALLEGED LARCENV. . James Hutchens was indicted on a charge. of stealing, on the 6th * l ' ie property of Henry fflrerkins, 0,0, Driscoll and John Meecham, trustees of Court Woodvilla, A.O.P. Mr Gray defended the prisoner, who pleaded not guilty, Evidence for the prosecution was given by Mrs Hill, and W, Walsh Halse, Morley, W. Miyo, W. Bliss, Henry T, Ferkins, and 0,0. Driscoll, the majority of them being residents of Woodville and memberß of Court Woodville, A.O.P. From tbeir evidence it appeared that Hutchens was secretary of the abovo lodge at the beginning of the year and that a short time previously a Mrs Hill made application to the trustees for a loan of £SO. It was decided to grant the loan, and the charge' against the prisoner was that he pocketed the money instead of paying it over as directed. Two days later he left the district. The prisoner's defence was to the effect that lie Jiad procured the money from the Society as an advance to himself,]^ Tnrjury, after deliberating for nearly two hours, returned a verdict of guilty. Mr Gray asked whether His Honor had decided to reserve for consideration a point ho had raised that there * was no formal proof of the appointinent of the Trustees of the Society. His Honour asked if there was any other conviction against the prisoner. Mr Gray i No, Your Honour, In reply to His Honour, Mr Gray proposed to ask that the ac cused should be dealt with under the First Offenders Act. . His Honour said that when'lie received the Probation Officer's report he might have to consider the point raised by Mr Gray. The prisoner was then remanded until Friday morning, in ordor that tbe Probation Officer ruigbt.preseat a report as to his antecedents,