SUPREME COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4205, 30 August 1892, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

Wellington Griminal Sessions, [By Telegraph,—Press Association,] Wellington, Monday. William Potter wub arraigned this afternoon on an indictment charging him Tith having on the 20th of Juue stolen an overcoat valued at Hi 10s, tho property of Frederick Illman, The prisoner, who was not represented, pleaded not guilty. After the Bearing of evidence the jury rotumed a' verdict of guilty. His Honor deferred sentence till Friday. STEALING; A CHEQUE, ,J^tt, elderly man named Henry Russell was obargod with having on the Gth pf August at Mastertpn stolen a chequefor £ls lOs, belonging to Alexander Eraser, blacksmith, of Master'ton. The prisoner, who y/as undefended paid he could not plead guilty tq stealing the cheque, biit he would plead guilty to finding it, His Honor said the law was this, if a person picked up a cheque in the street, and did not attempt to find tho owner, but '.' stuck to it" that nas stealing. The ovideace went to show that Mr Fraser bad lost the cheque in the street, and tbat the accused (who had found it) had cashed it at the \Vbolesalo Drapery Company's estabJi'sbirient;' ■''!'. J ". .■••■■

'' His Honor asked the accused if he had any defence to mako,' '6 Tho accused admitted tkat he bad found the cheque, and through poverty bad cashed it, His Honor: Well, that's stealing. Che jury, after 25 minutes' denization, returned a verdict of guilty, but recommended tlw accused to mercy. Constable Cashion, in answer to His Honor, said that the accused bad been living on a etajion,. He jmb lonit of tlrrojt, iHit'everyone spoke well of him, He had been in' gaol since August Btn, ' ' ' 'His Honor decided to deal with the accused under the' Probation Act...' 1-1 tye''Accied; m"reply |o ut His Honor, Baid fie could go to work, and. earn some money, Hie Honor said the prisoner would be placed on probation for 12 months and after the first three months be

would bavo lo pay £1 a month towards the cost of the prosecution,

Russell was then removed, but will, bo formally brought up ngain when ihn probation officer prosents his report.