SUPREME COURT TRIALS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13741, 24 May 1910, Page 7

SUPREME COURT TRIALS.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TE-EOnAJIB.)

AUCKLAND. May 23. .'* The Supremo Court criminal sessions opened this morning. Mr Justice Chapman commented on tho lengthy calendar, but remarked that the crime statistics of New Zealand compared * mere than favourably with those ov other countries. It was regrettable that so many youthful criminals were showing need for legislative reform, end he expressed gratification at the Government doing so much in this reKP RvLMERSTON NORTH, May 23. The Supreme Court sittings opened hero to-day. The criminal list is a small one, with !he exception of several charges preferred against Powelka. WELLINGTON, May 23. Edward John Falkiner, an employes in the Telegraph Department, who had been found guilty of several charges of fraudulent conversion, and theft, and forgery in connection with transactions in pianos, for which accused was agont, was sentenced to-day to two years and three months, with hard labour. Joseph Paul Davis and Martin Haines,, who had been found guilty of arson in connection with tho fire at the Rutland Hotel, Wanganui, wn:oto-d"»y sentenced to seven years'imprisonment with hard labour. The Chief Justice said that it was not an ordinary case'of arson. If it had been, he would havo dealt with it more leniently. Tho fact was, if tho fire had not takeai place at the timo it did, and as he believed contrary to the expectation of Haines, if it had been delayed an hour, there would have been no chance of saving tho lives of any of the people in tho hotel. Prisoners thorcforo risked human life, and any action which had. any effect on human lifo ho (his Honour) always looked upon witli horror, and he could not deal with the case otherwise than from that point of view. Ja'mos Cummings and John Fennessey, for assault and robbery, were each sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonmciit. Edward William Kelly and Alexander Driscoll, for "assault with intent to rob, wero each sent to prison for twenty-one months. Robert Corkill, nn elderly man and a bailiff, was charged with killing one Christopher Denis Smith on 4th March last at Wellington. Accused said he meant no harm to Smith; he was afraid of his life, and fired at random. The jury brought in a verdict of manslaughter, with a strong recommendation to mercy on the grounds of prisoner's ago and frailty and great pro-" vocation. Tho jury wero of opinion that prisoner really thought that his life was in danger, although this idea was unjustifiable. His Honour deferred sentence until Saturday. DUNEDIN, May 23. At tho Supremo Court-/ Mr Juatico Williams passed, the following sentences:—Daniel Morgan, for rewiring a stolen watch, fifteen months; IFVauk/ Mervyn Ken_*ted was connoted of falso pretences and forgery j sentence was deferred. William Henry Harris, aged ill, who had pleaded guilty to passing counterfeit com, was sentenced to three years' hard labour in the Tnvorcargill reformatory prison. Daniel Sweene.*, who had pleaded guilty to obtaining money from a Dunedin solicitor by pretending to be tho owner of three horses, was sentenced to six months, to comnlenCo at'tho expiration of a current sentence. Andrew Moore, charged." with setting fire to a building at Port ■ Chalmers, and on a second count of attempting to sot firo to tho building, was acquitted. . •