SUPREME COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2582, 17 August 1909, Page 6

SUPREME COURT.

SITTINGS IN AUCKLAND

[i’Kit Pkksb Association.]

AUCKLAND, August 16., i The Supreme Court criminal sessions opened this morning, Judge Edwards, in his charge to the grand jury, said that there were only 26 cases to be dealt- with, but no less than eight charges were' against men, alleging offences against the opposite sex. In respect to the charge of manslaughter against a tram conductor, his Honor said that if a person charged with a duty caused death by negligence of that duty, he was guilty of manslaughter. SITTINGS AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, August 16. The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court opened this morning. Mr Justice Chapman said lie was very sorry the number of cases on the list was above the average, but a comparatively small number of the crimes were of a serious nature. House-breaking seemed more prominent than formerly. One charge was against a Maori, of having had unlawful carnal knowledge of a Maori girl under the ago of 16. The case presented peculiarities, as accused and the girl made a sort of Maori marriage and lived together as man and wife: “You are not to take account of these so-called Maori marriages,” said the Judge. “If we were permitted to go back to the custom of Maori marriages, it might mean polygamous marriages. Circumstances might affect the question of punishment, but there is only one law for the Maoris and , Europeans.” Another important case, he said, was one where a woman was alleged to . have neglected a child, whereby it died; and another calling Tor serious consideration was a charge against -a man of sending an unseaworthy vessel to sea. . William Thomas Power was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for breaking and entering. At the Supremo Court to-day, Ernest King, alias Keenan, a young man, pleaded not guilty to three charges of theft. The first was that of stealing on the' 10tli of July a gold ring, set in diamonds, from Horace Lloyd; the second of stealing on the 14th July, from the person of Honry Newton, £3 in money; and the third of stealing two gold bangles from the shop of Louis illiarri Ludwig, on the 17tli July. The prisoner was found guilty, and remanded for sentence. John P. Wilson and Wm. J. Norman admitted stealing a quantity of chemicals and patent medicines from the jiremises of Young’s Chemical Company. The matter was adjourned till to-morrow for inquiries concerning the prisoners’ previous characters.

SITTINGS IN CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, August 16. The hearing of a motion for a new trial in the case of Stringer v. Norton was concluded on Saturday afternoon. Judgment was reserved. In his charge to the grand jury at the opening of the criminal sessions of tiio Supreme Court to-day, Mr. Justice Denniston remarked that it was satisfactory that there was only one case of a sexual nature. The following prisoners were sentenced: —James George Murphy, 25 years of age, IS monthsimprisonment for theft and escaping from custody; James Watson (39), false declaration under section 53 of the Marriage Act, 12 months’ imprisonment. His Honor said he hoped that proceedings would be taken against him for bigamy. William Woolley (25), theft, 12 months’, and at the termination of the period to be treated as an habitual criminal; John Whitford (29), bigamy, twelve months’ imprisonment; George. Finlay (28), forgery, nine months’ imprisonment. Samuel Richard Carr was found guilty of theft, and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, which would have been six but for the fact that he had been several months in gaol awaiting trial. Gearald Ohare pleaded guilty to a charge of forgery, and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. W r m. Nesbitt, on a charge of theft, was found not guilty. SITTINGS IN DUNEDIN. DUNEDIN, August 16. The annual sittings .opened to-day. Mr Justice Williams referred to the lightness of the calendar. Hie following sentences were passed: Alfred Genet, alias Jenkins, an old offender, theft of a basket from the railway platform, .11 months; David Rae, assault, 15 months; Henry Crofton, breaking and entering and theft, 12 months; Herbert Helm, 18 months. At the Supreme Court to-day, Wm. McTier was found not guilty of falsifying an order for payment of money to himself, and was discharged.' A charge of altering a receipt for money against John McDougall was not finished when the Court adjourned.