SUPREME COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 204, 27 August 1909, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SESSIONS. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court were continued before his Honor Mr. Justice Edwards yesterday afternoon. TEN YEARS AND TWO FLOGGINGS. James Campbell, who was convicted yesterday of committing rape on two womnn, came up for sentence. His Honor said the prisoner had been found guilty of a crime for which he wa3 liable to imprisonment for life, and another crime for which he was liable to imprisonment for a term of years. For both he was liable to a flogging. He would be sentenced to ten years' imprisonment and two. floggings each of ten lashes. A HORSE THIEF. The trial of Albert Charles Weingott for alleged horse-stealing at Matamata on January 24th was continued. Mr. dinger defended the prisoner. The story told by the accused was that he had hired the horse at Roach's livery stable at Matamata, and had started to ride over the ranges. In a narrow part of the track the horse slipped over a precipice and was killed. The prisoner then walked to Putaruru, where he spent the night. Subsequently he met his father at Erankton, and learned that a claim had been made for the value of the horse. Constable Dowry said he had carefully examined the track, and had been unable to find any trace of the dead horse. Moreover, the place where accused said he lost the horse was 35 miles from Putaruru, where he said he had slept. In summing up, his Honor said if the jnry believed the prisoner had ridden a dead horse 35 or 40 miles they must acquit him. They might retire to consider these remarkable physical facts. The jury returned a verdict of "Guilty," and. the prisoner was remanded for neutenco. 1A LLEGED IM>ECENT ASSAULT. William Alfred Lock pleaded ""Not Guilty" to a charge of indecent assault upon a little girl at Waihi. The prisoner was defended by Mr. J. R. Reed. After . a large amount of evidence had been ' given, his Honor summed up for three- j quarters of an hour. (Proceeding.) '