CRIMINAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 140, 15 June 1893, Page 7

CRIMINAL.

A clever arreat was effected ab Wellington by Detective Campbell on June 14th. On the nighb previous the police received a message saying bfaat James Dawson, chief accountant of the New Zealand Insurance Company at Dunedb, had disappeared, takingwith him £500 of thecompany'smoney. Dawaon was believed to have drawn the money from the bank on Saturday morning and to have lefb by the express the same day. He had secured a saloon passage for £30 on the ship Canterbury, which was jußb about to clear for Boston, and on, him was found a draft on the bank of California, for 480 dollars and £50 in gold. Dawson, who is 28 years of age, had been in the Company's service for thirteen years. Alexander Jamea Scotb, sentenced^ to death for the wilful murder of William Thompson ab Waikomiti, was hanged on May 22nd, and passed out of the world instantaneously, protesting to the very last moment that he was innocent of the crime for which be waa about to pay the last dreadful penalty. He had he said made a promise to shield another person, and ho was still determined to fulfil that promise. He seemed to pride himself in the fact that he had carried oub this determination to the bitter end. The drop was aboub 12 feeb. Scotb was attended to the scaffold by the Rev. Mr Calder. The Rev. Gregory de Unite, Roman Catholic chaplain to the Gaol, was also present, _ bub took no part in the proceedings. On the way from the cell in which the prisoner had been incarcerated to the scaffold, the Rev. Mr Calder read tho Slab i Psalm, and also a special prayer for a prisoner about to undergo bhe death penalty. Scott was dressed in his own clothes, having discarded the prison garb. He wore a white shirt and white trousers. He walked to tho scaffold bareheaded, and looked very pale, notwithstanding the fact that he had during his incarceration grown a board. Scott's arms were pinioned before he lefb the cell, by means of a strap around his waist, and crossed before him. Ho walked to the scaffold very quietly and calmly, and gave no sign of any want of courage. On being asked by the sheriff if he had any statement bo make, Scott said "I am innocent," and repeated this three times. To tho»Rev. Mr Caldor ho Baid, "I stand here to make a confession, I have sinned grievously against God, and I have made my peace with God." Ho then proceeded to cay, " I am innocent," and repeated this to- the last. Ho said ho had come to a determination to shield another person, and thab he had kepb bhab determinabion. The gaoler then asked him if ho had anything more to say, and he replied " No." Scotb was then placed immediately over .the drop, and the white cap over his head. Then the hangman sprung tho bolt, and Scotb fell. After tho sudden jerk which followed, there was no vibration of the rope, and it was evident that death had been instantaneous. On going to the back of the scaffold it was found that the man's neck had been broken by tho fall. Ho would, therefore, not; have suffered anything more than the most monenbary sensation. The officers presenb wore the sheriff and Dr. Philson, medical officer of tho gaol. An inquest was held on tho body at 9 o'clock. Subsequently the body was banded over to the friends of tho deceased. It was interrod ab Waikomiti. The Criminal Sittings of the Auck, land Supremo Court opened on May 29 when tho following gentlemen'were empannelled as a Grand Jury : —Charles Bates (foreman), Alexander Alison, Fred. J. Bennett, Jas. B. Blakey, Edward A. Brown, Albort E. Burcher, George Burns, James C. Davies, Moss Davis, John Dawson, David N. Dingwall, Walter Dufaur, Robert Hall, John H. Hannan, John Laxon, Ernest McG. Louch, Arthur Myera, Sydney J. Nathan, Wm. J. Rees, Alfred B. Shalders, John Whitmore, Pearson Wilson, and Oswald Younghusband. After over three hours' deliberation, the Grand Jury returned no true bill in tho indictment charging John Nicholson with manslaughter, and Lindsay Cooke, William Burns, John Wakefield, William McManemin, John McConnell, Wm. D. O'Meara, Fredk. J. Paltridge, Jamos Saxon, and Frank Burns, aiding and abetting.—Frederick Williams was brought before Hiu Honor for not having fulfilled the terms of tho Probation AcU Hia Honor eaid that ho would oxtend the probation for another six months but if brought before the Courb again he would send him to prison.—W. J. Rogers was similarly charged. Hia Honor said that he would oxtend the term of probation for another six months.—Thos. Atkinson Heaps waa charged with stealing one geldinp, the property of John Shields, and also a saddle and bridle, the property of John Shields. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to run concurrently. — William Alfred Blaunton was charged that on the 29th of March he feloniously forged a cheque, and, further, bhab on the following clay he uttered the cheque, knowing it to bo stolen. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour.—Alfred Ashanden was charged with having, on fcho 20bh of January, stolen a porbmanbeau and a quantity of clothing and furthor with knowing tho goods to bo Btolon. His Honor sentenced prisoner bo six months' imprisonment with hard labour, informing him that if he came before him again lie would sentence him (:o penal sorvitudo,—John Stophenson alias Sutherland was charged with breaking and entering tho dwelling-house of C A. B. Hickson, at Waiotahi, and stealing therefrom one watch chain and other articles of jewellery. There was a further charge that ho did receive the same knowing them to bo stolen, — Prisoner pleaded guilty to receiving, but nob to breaking and entering. His Honor took this as a plea of not guilty, and the hearing of tho charge was allowed to stand over.—Henry Small was charged with the larceny of one tin box, containing a suib of clothos and various* other articles, the property of J. B. Sutherland, from the dwelling house of Eliza Gordon. His Honor said he had no doubb bho prisonor was a thiof by profession, and lived with prostitutes. Tho sentenco of the Court would be 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour. — Charles Palmer was charged with having on the 20th of April feloniously forged a cheque. There was a Recond count charging him with uttering the chequo knowing it to bo I forged. Ho was sentenced to be imprisoned ' for a term of five years with hard labour.— William David Hunter, a young man, was charged thab on the 18th of April he foloniously stole ono silver watch valuo £5 and silver chain value 12h 6d, the property of Samuel G. Mitchell, from tho dwollinghouso of Jane Good ab One Tree Hill. He was found nob guilty.—Simon Kent, a young man, was charged that on tho 9th May, at Ohorn, he unlawfully wounded Patrick Shanaghan. There was a second count that ho inflicted grievous bodily harm upon Patrick Shanaghan. His. Honor sentenced him to hard, labour for a term of six calendar inontli3. —John Stephenson, alias John Sutherland, was charged with having on tho 2nd of April feloniously broken into the house of Charles A. B. Hickson, of Waiotahi, and stolon ccrtaiu jewellery, and, further, with receiving the goods knowing them to bo stolen. Prisoner was sentenced to four years' penal servitude. —Henaro lluko Maketu, an aboriginal nativo, was charged that on the 29th December, 1892, he feloniously stole a gelding, the property of Peter Frederick Hanson. Prisoner waa sentenced to &ix months' impriEonment with hard labour.