SUPREME COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2746, 26 February 1910, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

TWENTY SHILLINGS IN THE £

( Putt Pjikss Association. | AUCKLAND, Fob. 25

At the Supreme Court, in civil jurisdiction, it was announced that the case of the Official Assignee v. Airs. Jane Isabelle .Lennox, wife of J. M. Lennox, sharebroker, has been settled, Mrs. Lennox having agreed to contribute a specific sum in the event of a deficiency in the estate of J. M. Lennox after the realisation of the Queen Street property. As far as can bo seen the arrangement should secure all creditors 20s in the £, and put an end to litigation.

TWO YEARS FOR EMBEZZLEMENT

At the Supreme Court, Tom Beans, for embezzlement of the property of George Davies, a- tailor,, of Auckland, pleaded, guilty. Ho admitted he was a -married man, and had left his wife in Christchurch without having made provision for her. He went to Sydney with another woman, but claimed that ho only intended taking the latter to her sister. He had received 'anonymous letters, stating that his wife had left him. This was the cause of all the trouble. Accused was sentenced to two years’ hard labor.

VICTIMISING SHAREBROKERS

At- the Supremo Court Sidney Thoburn, alias Sidney Stevenson, was presented .on a. charge of having victimised certain sharebrokers of considerable sums of money. Air. ITackett, who appeared for tlj) accused,, said that Thoburn was a butcher living at the Thames. On one occasion he heard some persons during the course of a conversation remark that it was a very easy tiling for anyone to victimise a sharebroker. This hint sank deeply into his mind. His Honor said the charges were of a very serious character indeed, and it was impossible to regard them lightly. Prisoner would he sentenced to 18 months’ hard labor, and an order was made for the repayment of £65 15s 7d found on him.

A CHANCE FOR REFORAIATIOX. NAPIER, Feb. 25. At the Supreme Court to-day, Air Justice Cooper released on three years’ probation Hiram Ashcroft and Arthur Hanlen, who pleaded guilty to charges of forging telegrams defrauding a bookmaker of £27 ISs. The Judge said he did not wish to send them to prison, but to give them a chance of reformation. Still he made the conditions extremely stringent. The lads ore not to bet or attend race meetings. He commented strongly on .street betting, but recognised the difficulty of the police in getting convictions.

FAILED TO KEEP PROPER BOOKS.

Tudor Nugent Baker, who pleaded guilty to failing t-o keep proper books, was fined £.20, and ordered to pay £lO eases. The Judge remarked that ;;s Tie had pleaded guilty in June last it would be necessary to sentence him to about nine months to impose a term of short imprisonment, as the term commences from the date he pleaded. He was bringing the matter under the notice of the Government.

CRIMINAL BUSINESS IN NAPIER

At the Supreme Court- to-dav Alexander Coutts Kerr, charged with theft from the person, was found not -guilty and discharged. Cecil Alt-Bean Brown pleaded guilty to common assault at Kskdnle. Roderick Alexander Greenaway was found not guilty of abetting him. arid was discharged. Brown was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. with hard labor,, for assault with intent t-n commit- rape (of which he had been found guilty on the previous day) and for common assault.