Supreme Court.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XIII, Issue 1367, 8 September 1858, Page 3

Supreme Court.

CRIMINAL SITTINGS. Wednesday, September 1, 1358. before his honor mr. justice gresson. The Court was opened with the usual formalities. The Grand Jury having been sworn, his Honor, in addressing them said he was verysorry to observe that tile calendar before him presented a formidable array of crime. Fourteen offences were charged, including burglary, arson, perjury, forgery, prison breach, and horse stealing. These offences, however, had not all been committed within the short space of three months, the period that has elapsed since the last session of the Court for the dispatch of criminal business. Several of the bills were found at the last session, but stood over in consequence of the escape of the prisoners, or the absence of material witnessess. Their duties therefore would be comparatively light. The cases to be brought before them were of a simple, ordinary character, and he did not apprehend that they would have any difficulty in dealing with them, but if any question should occur to them upon which they desired the assistance of the Court, he should be happy to afford it. The Grand Jury then retired to their room : true bills were found against all the prisoners. William Pepper was indicted for wilful and corrupt perjury, for swearing in certain proceedings in the Resident Magistrate's Court at Wellington, between Mr. Stockbridge and Mr, Wright, for Cattle Trespass, that the fences between them were burnt down by a fire which Mr. Stockbridge’s son had directed the prisoner to light on the 17th March, 1857. Mr. Brandon conducted the prosecution, Mr. King defended the prisoner. From the evidence adduced it appeared that the Prisoner, • who was in Mr. Stockbridge’s employ at the time of tile fire, was taken by Mr. Stockbridge to Mr. Brandon, his Solicitor, who took down Prisoner’s statement in writing, to the effect that 1 e did not know how the fire originated, and that he afterwards swore in the Resident Magistrate’s Court that the fire was lighted by himself by the orders of Mr. Stockbridge’s son.— this Mr. Stockbridge’s son denied upon oath. Mr. King commented strongly upon the conduct of the Prosecutor and his sons in the matter, and also upon the mode in which the Prisoner’s statement was taken by Mr. Brandon, and that such statement could not be considered as voluntary,as he was in Prosecutor’s employ and compelled to go with him to bis Solicitor, and that the fire was probably occasioned by the Prisoner at the request of the son who had every reason to conceal the same from his father. The Jury acquitted the Prisoner. . This case lasted the whole of the day. Thursday, September 2, 1858. John Wood pleaded guilty to two indictments for Burglary and was sentenced to penal servitude for four years in the Colony for the first offence, and four years penal servitude for the second offence, to commence on the expiration of the first sentence. William Weston, otherwise Richard Thomas Shield pleaded guilty to an indictment for Forgery, also to another indictment of Horse Stealing, and was sentenced to four years penal servitude for the first offence, and four years penal servitude from the expiration of the first sentence for the second offence. James Kelly pleaded guilty to two indictments tor larceny, and was sentenced to one year's imprisonment [with bard labour for each offence, to commence on the expiration of his present sentence for prison breach. Jeremiah Desmond pleaded guilty to an indictment for stealing a watch, and was sentenced to one calendar month's imprisonment. The prisoner had been instrumental in leading to the discovery of the property stolen by Wood. Michael Saunders was indicted for stealing the sum of £5B from the person of George Cockroft. The prisoner pleaded not guilty. The evidence was conclusive against the prisoner, one of the witnesses proving that he seized the hand of the prisoner, as he withdrew it from the person of the prosecutor, with the money in his grasp. The Jury without retiring found the prisoner guilty. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour. Bernard Eustace, charged with arson and escape from prison, was recommitted in consequence of the absence of a ma erial witness who, it appeared, was at present in the Hospital at Wanganui. Margaret Gill was bound over in her own recognisances to appear at the next sittings to answer an indictment for a misdemeanour.