CRIMINAL SITTINGS

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14665, 14 May 1913, Page 4

CRIMINAL SITTINGS

Tho criminal sittings of the Supreme Court wero continued yesterday morning before his Honour Mr Justice Denniston. Mr T. W. Stringer, K.C., Crown Prosecutor, appeared for the Crown in eacli case. NOT GUILTY. Eugeno Allen, a tramway conductor, pleaded not guilty to committing perjury in the evidence ho gave on oath at an inquest held at Christchurch on April 7th. touching tho death of one Evelyn Edith Coombes, by falsely swearing that when the said deceased fell from tho car of which he was tho conductor, tho said car was three poles distant from the stopping place. Mr llayinond, with him Mr Anthony, appeared for prisoner. Evidence for the Crown was given on tho lines of that given in the Magistrate's Court, and ! already published at length. No evidence was called for the defence, but Mr Raymond addressed the jury and his Honour summed up strongly in prisoner's favour. Tho jury, after a short retirement, brought in a verdict of not guilty, and prisoner was discharged. A BICYCLE THIEF. Albert Jennings, for whom Mr A. T. Donnellv unpen red, pleaded not guilty to ou 2-ltli October. 11(11. at Christchurch, stealing ono lady's bicycle, '■ valued at £10, the property of Mary 'E. Boyd. The case for the Crown was j that Miss Boyd, who was a cashier at : Armstrong's, "left her bicycle in a shed ! at tho back of the firm's premises, on . October 24tiiT .11)11, and when she wont !to get it again it was gone. It was j • subsequently found in prisoner's possession .ast April. Mr Donnelly ca.iyd no evidence, but addressed the jury instead. Tho jury brought in a verdict of guilty. Sentence was deferred. ALLEGED THEFT. Thomas Stirling.-pleaded not guilty to on or about 21st December last, at Taumutu, stealing thirteen fishing nets of the value of £20 ss, the property of Peter Bowker. Mr" M. Donnelly represented accused. Tho jury returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mere.V, on tho following grounds: (1) Of prev'ous good character, and (2) that prisoner originally took the nets without intending to deprive the owner of them, but afterwards, in assisting to conceal them, ho was actuated by the fear of the consequences. As it is not known what tho abovo verdict amounts to, the matter is to bo discussed beforo tho Court this morning, to ascertain what tho real verdict is. , In the meantime, accused was allowed to go free, on his own recognisance.,'