THE COURTS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15040, 7 August 1914, Page 2

THE COURTS.

SUPREME COUET.

CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

(Before his Honour Mr justice THEFT AND RECEIVING.

Elizabeth Black was charged vrith the jeftj on May 6feh, 1914, of the sum of 218 m cash, ona railway ticket of the ralue of £1 15s, and one steamer ticket valued at 12s 6d from tho person of William Thomas Worms. William r <yndhurst was charged with reeeirinK ;e money and tickets, knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. Both prisoners, who wero represent:l by Mr Spratt, pleaded not guilty. Iγ S. G. Raymond. K.C., prosecuted. William Thomas Worms, in evidence, 'id he was a coal dealer. He detaill tlio meeting with the woman on tho in question, and said he had ivev seen lier boforo in his life. ITic •'t niTnin ; !•.;■ . aiv the ivonis , " '.n D irham street, and he identified her as the ivonian bo had mot the previous evenir,s and takou into- a hotei iOr a whisky. l-'uit-ier evidence was Riven for the i-osecution by Eiizabath Withers, Alex.nder Rankin. Arnold Edward PannelJ, '.nd Acting-Detective ilegan. For t>.a d-fc-nce, Mr Spratt contond--•d that though the case at fipt sisht appeared to be conclusive against his client, it would bear a different aspect •rhen t*ie evidence was heard. U'illiain Lyndiiurst, in accounting or tho money found in his possession rhen arrested,.said it was from winljngs at tho Easter race meeting in C!irisichurch, at which he won between ,L2l and £22. After fifteen minutes' deliberation, ..:e jury -returned wiiii a verdict of guilty against both accused. His Honour, in sentencing the prisoner, said Lyndhurst was a menace to

society, in that he had a number o!

previous convictions against Jtim, and was, further, one of the most objectionable class of society known—a man who

had, without the slightest doubt, lived on the earnings of a woman. Therefore, he would have to be kept out of the way for a substantial period, and the sentence would be five years' imprisonment. As regards the female accused, his Honour said that she, too, had been in gaol many times for various offences, and hnd qualified to be treated as an habitual criminal. However, he did not intend to declare her an habitual on this occasion, but he would make tho penalty substantial, and sentence her to two years' imprisonment. - BREAKING AND"ENTERING.

Carl Klingenberg was charged with breaking and entering the residence of id. I. Mehrtens, at Rangiora, on May 12th, with intent to commit a crime." Tho accused, who pleaded not guiity, was represented by .Uγ J. R. •ouningiiara.

The Crown Prosecutor, in opening tho case, eaid that accused, mior to the dato of the offence, had been in tho employ of Mr Mehrtens a3 a

threshing'machine hand, and was the only foreigner employed by him. About 8.30 o'clock on the evening in question the occupants of tho house, who had retired to bed early, heard a man,

whom Mrs Mehrtens distinguished by the foreign accent in his voice as accused, spoak to the dog, which had been barking in the yard. a. few minutes later a window was opened : and .ilr .Mehrtens, on going to investigate, noticed a man, whom he recognised as accused, getting out through, tho window, v

The jury returned after an adjournment or" seventeen minutes with a, verdict of not guilty. : The prisoner was discharged. MOTORCYCLE DEAL.

Archie Robertson was charged with having .bought a motor-cycle from Adams, Ltd., on tho biro purchase system, and before'" completing' payment by false representation selling the raachino to G. W. Henclerson, thereby obtaining; tho sum of-£3B 10s: r Mr A- T. Donnelly represented prisoner, who pleaded not guilty. Tho jury retired at' 6.37, and,, after ten minutes, returned'with a verdict of' guilty. Mr Donnelly pointed out tliat it was the first occasion on which accused had been before the Court, and ho was a man between 33 and 34 years of age. The C.uwn Prosecutor eaid it was true that accused had-never been bofore the Court previously] but so far as his general character was concerned, tho po'.icQ report was not at all favourable. .

His Honour said it was not a case for probation, and accused would oe sentenced to four months', imprisonment. .

The Court then rose.