SUPREME COURT.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14666, 15 May 1913, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

« r CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

The criminal sittings of th,e Supreme Court were continued yesterday before his Honour Mr Justice Dcnniston. Mr T. W. Stringer, K.C., Crown ProEeciitor, appeared for tho Crown, in each case. VERDICT OF GUILTY. In the case of Thomas Stirling (Mr ] M. Donnelly), in which the jury returned a somewhat ambiguous verdict on Tuesday, legal argument was taken as to what the verdict really amounted to. and his Honour neld that it was one of guilty. Prisoner was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, and to pay £5 towards tho costs of the prosecution. HIS LAST CHANCE. Albert Claxton, charged with attempting to break and enter the shop of one Charles Carter with intent to commit a, crime therein, was found guilty by the jury without leaving the box." Mr Donnelly, who appeared for prisoner, said the man was a first offender. Ho applied for probation. His Honour said he would give prisoner another chance, but it would bo the last. Prisoner would be admitted to probation for twelve months, and ordered to pay £3 towards the costs of tho prosecution in monthly instalments of 10s.A MENACE TO SOCIETY. John Burrago, a middle-aged man, pleaded not guilty to indecent assault. Mr M. Donnelly appeared for prisoner. The jury returned a verdict of guilty. His Honour described prisoner as a menace to society, and sentenced him to the maximum penalty of five years' gaol. The Crown entered a stay oF proceedings on another charge against prisoner of attempting to commit an unnatural offence. PERJURY. Arthur William Rait, for whom Mr Johnston appeared, pleaded not guilty to, on March 29th last, at Christchurch, committing perjury in tho evidence which he gave on oath at an inquest touching the death of one William Kennedy by falsely swearing that while driving along Manchester street, on. tho evening of March 24th last, his horse swerved and ho passed an object on the ground, that his cab did not strike tho deceased, nor did it run over him on the ground. Evidence was adduced on behalf of the Crown on the lines* of that given in tho Lower Court. No evidence was called for the defence, but prisoner's counsel addressed the jury instead. The jury, after a retirment of about an hour's duration, found prisoner guilty. Sentence was deferred till this morning. ALLEGED ARSON. Matthew Findlay Paterson pleaded not guilty to, on March 22nd, at Ashburton Forks, wilfully setting fixe to a stack of peas, the property of one Hugh Kennedy, thereby committing the crime of arson, ilr Acland defended prisoner. Evidence was given by Thomas Kennedy and Thomas Greenaway as to their watching accused's house till about 12.45 a.m. on the morning of the burning of the stack, as to their then following accused from his houso in the direction of the paddock where the wheat stack was, as to their losing sight of him, and as to their then finding the pea stack on fire. Greenaway also gave evidence as to tracing footprints of a peculiar nature towards the stack.

At this stage the Court adjourned till 10 o'clock this morning.