SUPREME COURT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 155, 6 August 1914, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

r CRIMINAL SESSIONS. ITVE TEARS TOR BOBBERY. The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were continued after THE SUN went to press yesterday, his Honour Mr Justice Denniston presiding. Mr S. G. Raymond, K.C., prosecuted on„ behalf of the Crown. ARSON. When the Court resumed this morning, Richard Moore Sargent was called for sentence for having \ burned down a haystack. Prisoner was represented by Mr J. J. Dougall. His Honour he had had considerable difficulty in determining how to deal with this case. He pointed out to prisoner the serious nature of such an offence, and said he would give'him another chance. Prisoner was admitted to three years' probation. -,. . : -. A SERIOUS CHARGE. : John Henry alias Reveley, was charged with committing assault with intent to commit rape. There were alternative counts of indecent assault, of attempted carnal knowledge, and of assault so as to cause actual bodily harm. Mr M. Gresson appeared on behalf of the accused. The jury retired at 11.45 a.m. At 12.5 p.m. the jury returned to court with a verdict that prisoner was guilty of assaulting the girl with the intention of committing an' indecent act, A sentence of two years' imprisonbent was imposed. A USELESS WEAPON. Michael Colbert (for whom Mr Donnelly appeared) pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to do actual bodily harm to. George William Green and Isabella * Colbert, and to charges of having assaulted them. The evidence for the Crown was to the-effect that Mrs Colbert, wife of the accused, went out to the house ofj Mr and Mrs Green at Belfast and stayed there. On the afternoon of May 6 accused went to the'house and demanded that his,wife should go home. His wife complained of ill treatment and re-' fused to go. Accused returned again about 8 p.m. to make the same demand, but was again met with a refusal. About 11 p.m-; he returned again and smashed a window. Green and accused's wife went out and accused produced a loaded revolver and threatened to shoot

them. After a struggle he was disarmed and subsequently arrested. For the defence' rt was stated that the revolver was order, and that the prisoner knew it. He drew the weapon merely to strike Green with it because the latter had assaulted him;' After the revolver-Jjad been exam-, ined by his Honour, sel it was agreed that it and under his Honour's ,__ jury returned a verdict of not' guilty. ■ > - ->