SUPREME COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 208, 2 September 1893, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

THIS DAY.

-.: CRIMINAL SITTINGS,

(Before Hia Honor Mr Justice Conolly.) Larceny at the Robert Burns Hotel. —James Griffin and William Younger, who, on Thursday last, pleaded guilty to a charge of having on the let of July stolen £27, one cash box, two rings and one publican's license, the property of Charlea Edward Stone, licensee of the Robert Burns Hotel, Unionstreet, were brought before His Honor for sentence. The prisoners had aIRO been found guilty of robbery from Mr Prosser's shop, Karangahape Road.—Mr O'Meagher appeared on behalf of the prisoners. When challenged, Griffin put in a written statement, which His Honor read.—His Honor to prisoner: Do you want this read out in Court? — Griffin: I am satisfied with Your Honor reading the statement.— Younger than addressod His Honor in mitigation of sentence. He commenced by saying that he did not feel up to the strain, for he had been eick for the past four days, and had not eaten threequarters of a pound of solid food. He pointed out that there was sufficient money to recoup the loaaes of tho two prosecutors, and wont on to say that in the lower Court an idea prevailed that Hia Honor would be influenced against prisoners generally. He (Younger) was Buro such would not be the case, for what he had seen of His Honor's troatment of other prisoners he could not be influenced in any way in these two caaes. He said Hia Honor had behaved in a mono noble manner in all cases, and then denied the evidence given by Lyttle identifying him as ordering a jemmy. —Mr O'Meagber read Griffin'a statement, and said he had nothing to say on behalf of the prisoners.—His Honor : I want to know something about these prisoners.—Chief Detective Grace was called. He said thab Griffin and Younger arrivod in Auckland about the 31?t May or 3rd of June. From inquiries made of the Sydney police authorities, they stated that Griffin had boen convicted at the Central Police Court in Sydney on the 20th July 1888, and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for being a suspected person ; at the Melbourne Petty Sessions in October, 18S5, he was sontencod to 12 months' imprisonment for being illegally at large: in November, 1885, at Melbourne General Sessions, he was sentenced to 2 years' hard labour for stealing from the person; and at) the Sydney Quarter Soaaions in October, 1890, ho was sentenced to throe years' imprisonment. Griffin was discharged from the Goul bourn .Gaol on the 15th February last. In reply to His Honor, Detective Grace said the information was from the Sydney police. There was no doubt) about the identity of tho man. Detective Grace said thab he had no information oboub Younger, who arrived here about the 18th of June lasb from the South. Ho had frequently soen the two prisoners together. —His Honor addressed the prisoners and said that he was quite satisfied that they were habitual thieves and that ib was not until recently that they were known in thi? colony. He would order that they be kept in penal servitude for 3 years on each charge, the sentences to run concurrently. —Griffin: I deny boing connected with the crimes mentioned. — His Honor: I have no doubt, as I said before, you are habitual thieves and livo by thieving.—At the request of Mr Tolo, His Honor ordered tbab the prosecutors be handed the money taken from the premises.—George Osborne Brinsley, who was jointly indicted with the prisoners for the robbery ab the Robert Burns Hotel, was found nob, guilty by the jury. The jury retired aboub four o'clock yesterday afternoon, and did not agree upon their verdicb until a quarter past 9 o'clock lasb night.—His Honor said it was the only verdict the jury could give, for although there may be grave suspicions that the accused was an associate of the other prisoners, thero was nothing to associate him with them in this offence. Brinsley was discharged.

Alleged Indecent Assault. — Osward Francis Pilling surrendered his bail, and was indicted that on the 15th July he indecently assaulted Elizabeth Patterson.— Accused pleadednotiguiltyandwas defended by MrThoo. Cooper and Mr Thos Cotter.— Witnesses were ordered out of Court.— Mr Tole asked that the Court be cleared, but His Honor said tbab so long as the public behaved themselves, he had no power to do so.—ln (stating the case for the Crown Mr Tole said that hefoundhimself confronted with a duty which was exceedingly painful. On one Bide was a respectable virtuous girl, and on the other the accused who held an exceedingly good character. Accused was charged that at Reid's accommodation house, Rangiriri, on the nighb of the 15th July last, ho committed the alleged offence. The pvosecutrix was a domestic servant and the accused a drover, who brought a drove of cattle to Rangiriri on the 14th July, and stopped at the accommodation house, owing to the .weather being showery. Accused and a number of others played cards until about 1 o'clock in the morning, and Mr Reid, the proprietor, ehowed accused to his room ab one end of the house while the girl slepb at the other end.—Elizabeth Patterson, a respectable and modest looking girl, dressed in mourning, gave evidence, and deposed as to the alleged assaulb and calling for assistance. To the best of her belief, Pilling had been in the bouee four or five timos during the last 9 months. Tho witnes? was cross-examined ab length.—Walter Reid, proprietor of the Rangiriri accommodation house, Dr. H. K. MacLachlan, John O'Loughlin and Constable White also gave evidence for the prosecution.—A number of witnesses were to bs examined for the defence, as to the good character of the accused. The caße is not likely to be finished until a late hour this evening.