SUPREME COURT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIII, Issue 9793, 8 February 1923, Page 3

SUPREME COURT

PRISONERS SENTENCED.

(Par Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., February 7. In the Supreme Court, Mr Justice Salmond imposed sentences on the following prisoners:— Harold Augustus Wheeley, attempted carnal knowledge at Kakariki, three years' imprisonment. James Hiniri, theft at Foxton, three months' imprisonment. Albert Edward Way, assault with intent to cause bodily harm at Palmerston North, three months' imprisonment. Olive Joseph Noble, attempted arson at Eeildmg, reformative detention for a period not exceeding two years. WELLINGTON SESSIONS. WELLINGTON, February 7. A youth named Stanley Win wood M'ivissick Reid appeared at the Supreme Court to answer charges of assault with intent. There were alternative charges of common assault. The assaults were alleged to have been committed in a reserve at Oriental Bay. On behalf of accused counsel said he would not deny the fact that Keid had assaulted five women without excuse, but he maintained very strongly that the intention had not been the commission of such a serious offence as that alleged in the main counts. After a retirement of an hour the jury returned with a .verdict of guilty on all charges, with a recommendation that the prisoner should be placed in an institution for treatment. CASES AT AUCKLAND.

AUCKLAND, February 7. At the Supreme Court, Agnes Hill, aged sixty-lour, and Jessie Armstrong, aged fifty (sisters) and Oswald Jensen, twenty-four, were charged with using an illegal instrument on a seventeen-year-old girl. One witness was a girl who said Jensen asked her to find a woman who would get a girl out of trouble. It ivas alleged that the detective in charge of the case had told her if she did not give evidence in support of the chief witness she would be arrested and placed in the dock with the three accused. Witness stated that the detective told her the girl in question was dying, whereupon witness admitted her part in the alleged affair. Later the detective took her to the detective office, where he produced the girl's statement and read certain portions to her.

In reply to counsel for Jensen witness stated that the detective said that if she did not hear it out she would be locked up. Asked if she were not on probation and the detective held it over her as a threat, witness became tearful and finally nodded in the affirmative.

Mr Justice Stringer: Did anything said by the detective induce you to mako any false statement? Witness: Yes, I made one incorrect statement.

To further questions, witness said she certainly was not a willing witness. The detective told her she was the worst woman in the case, and it was to her benefit to speak out. The case was adjourned.

MURDER CHARGE.

THE COOPERS REMANDED. WELLINGTON, February 7. Daniel Richard Cooper and Martha Elizabeth Cooper, who were charged on three counts of unlawfully detaining children; were further charged this morning with the murder of an infant child on or about November 31, 1921.

They were remanded till next Wednesday, and a further remand will probably be necessary.