SUPREME COURT. THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 277, 22 November 1899, Page 2

SUPREME COURT. THIS DAY.

CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

(Before His-Honor Mr Justice Conolly.) .SALUTARY SENTENCE. A middle aged man named John Heald was indicted on the 19 ho October at Big Bay, he did actual bod ilv harm to Wm Bone J mr; and fux ther, that he did assault- Wm. Bone A?ui. on the.lOth Of October- bo a. to cause him actual bodi y harm. l_U»o was a third count that- on 24th o etober, at Coromandel, ** «^£* from the lawful custody ot Constable E H. Daw, a peace officer. Prisoner pleaded guilty to the second and third counts of the mdict-

mcnt. n __ _ ... Air Parr, who appeared tor the Crown, said he did not propose to offer any evidence on the-first count. He asked leave to withdraw it. to which His Honor consented. Mr Theo.. Cooper (instructed h\ Alessrs Hesketh and Richmond) spoke in mitigation of sentence. He said prisoner was a hard working settler, livin"' near Coromandel. He had got into''litigation with the prosecutor over a wages claim. Although the assault was a severe one, the prosecutor had recovered from the effects. Air -I. H. Hannan, J.?., testified that prisoner was a hard working eeJttler. He was willing to become responsible for his future good behaviour. Air Muir said he brought a case against prisoner for wages, which he won. He suffered with the injuries for a fortnight, and had a pain in the

eye now. Dr. Cheeseman, of Coromandel, said he found extensive bruises on the 1 head, body and face of Mr Muir. He examined him four days after the ..s----sault. The injuries were all bruises. but not likely to be permanent. The bruises were no doubt inflicted with considerable violence. Constable Law said prisoner lived 20 miles from Coromandel. He was a man of violent temper and disposition. That was prisoner's general reputation. • His Honor said prisoner had been treated with great leniency by the acting solicitor for the Crown, who had not pressed the most serious charge. It was a shocking case. The prosecutor brought a claim for wages against prisoner in the Magistrate's Court, and afterwards he met him alone and asaulted iiri. He brutally beat the prosecutor with a fence rail so badly that he evidently thought he had killed him. Prisoner had pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm, and to escaping from custody. He would not be doing his duty unless he passed the highest sentence allowed by law. which would be three years' imprisonment with hard labour on the second count of causing actual bodily harm, and .six. months' imprisonment on the charge. 6f escaping from custody. THEFT OF A SCARF PIN AND RECEIVING. ...-,.. A young man named Chas.' Henry Matthews, aged 20, was indicted that on 2nd of October, 1599, he stole from the dwelling house of •.Titos. Watson and others, at Tikinui, a scarf pin, of the value of £15. There was a second count that he did receive and have the same. ■ • Prisoner pleaded guilty.—Mr F. E. Baume apeared •on his behalf," a.nd spoke' asking for leniency. ■ Detective Herbert said rrisoner was a rising young criminal. His Honor sentenced him to twelve, months' imprisonment with hard labour. Prisoner was then brought before His Honor by Mr Reston for a breach of the Probation Act. A sentence of One month's imprisonment was imposed, to run concurrent with the 12 months. ALLEGED THEFT 'OF A HEIFER. A respectable looking Maori named Moa Paora was indicted that on Bth February, at Punaketere (Hokiang.. district), be stole one heifer, the property of Arthur Reginald PMllips, farmer and cattle dealer. There was also a. second count that on Bth February he obtained the sum of 15/ from another native by false pretences, with in+ent to defraud. Prisoner denied stealin.*- the heifer. He said it was his own property. .He admitted having sold the beast because it belonged ftO him. This was taken as a'plea of not guilty. Mr J, R. Reed appeared on behalf of prisoner. Mr C. J. Parr conducted the case for the Crown. (Proceeding.)