SUPREME COURT—THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 139, 13 June 1888, Page 8

SUPREME COURT—THIS DAY.

(Before His Honor Mr Justice Gillies.) Larceny.— William Nelson, who was found guilty of this offence yesterday, was sentenced to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for a period of two years. Indecent Assault.—ln the case ot iieni Rapihana, charged with indecently assaulting a girl twelve years of ape, the jury returned a verdict of " guilty yesterday afternoon. Prisoner was brought forward at the openino- of the Court this morning and sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour, and that in the nrst month he should be once privately whipped with 25 strokes of the cat. . . • .• Horse -stealing.—William Smith was charged that he did about the 23rd March, 1888, unlawfully take and drive away one brown gelding, the property of Richard Hancock.-Prisoner, who was defended by Mr Humphreys, pleaded "Not guilty "—Mr H. Williamson, in openfner the case, stated that Richard Hancock was a settler in the district of Waihi, and prisoner was also a resident somewhere in that district. Hancock had this horse on the 15th or 20th of March running on the plains, and about the 23rd of March ho missed it. Inquiries were made by the police, and the horse was traced to the prisoner's possession in April. The prisoner had made contradictory statements as to how he got the horse.—Evidence for the prosecution was given at considerable length.-Mr Humphreys addressed the Court for the defence, contending that there was no evidence to prove that the prisoner knew the horse was the property of Richard Hancock, and that he had given a reasonable account of how ho became possessed of the horse.—The jury, after twenty minutes deliberation, returned a verdict of "not guilty," and the accused was discharged. Another House Stealing Case.—Edward Howell was charged that ho did on or about the 6th of April, 1888, feloniously steal and take away one black gelding, the property of Hugh Alexander McKinnon. Prisoner, who was defended by Mr O'Meaghor, pleaded "not guilty." Mr H. Williamson in opening the case stated that the pceno of the alleged theft was Cambridge. The witness, Alexander McKinnon, would state that on the evening of the 6th April, he put his horse in a paddock securely fenced and with proper gates. Next morninc he found that the horse had disappeared. The prosecution would prove clearly and conclusively that it was the prisoner who took the horse. On the evening in question be was in the company of two other persons named Kennedy and Doyle. During the evening Kennedy and the prisoner left Doyle, and when they returned shortly afterwards they rode different horses to those they had formerly. Kennedy and the prisoner proceeded to Napier and on the way Howell changed the brand on the horse he was riding. At Napier they were arrested and brought back. He" (Mr Williamson) understood that it wotld not be denied that the prisoner took the horse, and that the question the jury would have to decide would be as to the felonous intent.—Evidence in accordance with this statement was given by Alex. MoKinnon and John Doyle. [Left Sitting].