SUPREME COURT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7402, 4 February 1908, Page 4

SUPREME COURT.

AUCKLAND, Febrasity S. The criminal sessions have opened. Mr Justice Edwards regretted that there was no diminution of crime during'his absence from the dominion. No fewer than thirty-eight persons are charged, amongst them being two charges of murder, one of attempted murder, and ten for sexual offences. Albert Marsden, a young man, who pleaded guilty to forgery and theft at Onehunga, was admitted to probation for two years. Peter Alexander, who had pleaded guilty in the lower Court to forgery, was sentenced to 18 months' hard labour. John Hooper, a young man, committed for trial from Waipu, charged with breaking and entering and theft of a quantity of wearing apparel, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 12 months' hard labour.

WELLINGTON, February 3. The Supreme Court criminal sessions opened to-day. Thirteen cases were set down for trial. The Grand Jury found true bills on each indictment. In the case of James Sheridan, charged with the murder of John McNally, the jury returned a bill of manslaughter. Frederick Cooper pleaded guilty to several charges of burglary at private houses in the city. The man had a bad record, and he was sentenced to three years imprisonment. John Moffatt and Charles Mack were found guilty of robbery from a hotel, and remanded for sentence till next day. Patrick Brady was sentenced to four months inprisonment for * robbing a drunken aailor. James Mills and Arthur Thomas were found guilty of assault and robbery at Masterton, and were each sentenced to two years hard labour.