THE COURTS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17297, 8 November 1921, Page 4

THE COURTS.

SUPREME COURT.

j PRISONERS SENTENCED. At a short sitting of the Supreme Court yesterday morning five prisoners came before his Honour Mr Justice Adams for sentence. REFORMATIVE TREATMENT. William David Hand, aged 17, found guilty of having had unlawful carnal knowledge, was represented by Mr R. Twyneham. His Honour said that the Probation Officer's report seemed to show that prisoner was more or less responsible- for the other offences against the same girl. Tho case wag clearly one for reformative treatment, and Hand would be sentenced to reformative treatment at the Borstal Institution for not more than three years. It did not follow that he would be detained for all of that ■ period. Harry Clark, aged 19, and John Leslie Clark, aged 30, two brothers, were brought up for sentence for carnal knowledge in respect to the same girl who had figured in the case against Hand. They were also sentenced to reformative treatment for a. period not exceeding three years. THEFT. John Robert Smith, aged 32, a, half-caste Maori, appeared for sentence on a charge of breaking and entering and thef*- Mr C. S. Thomas, who appeared on behalf of tho prisoner, said that .Smith had one previous con.viction for dishonesty, but otherwise his record was good. He had pleaded guilty to the theft of some goods from a railway station, but on a charge of "receiving" he had pleaded not guilty, and the jury found him guilty. The two charges practically related to the'one transaction. Mr Thomas- said ho did not ask for probation, but he hoped that his Honour would take into account the tentonoe now being served. Mr A. T. Donnelly, Crown Prosecutor, said I that the "receiving" was either a separate offence, or part of a system, as his Honour had suggested. His Honour said that tho Probation Officer's report waa that the prisoner seemed determined to settle down/ to a life of crime. He would be given an opportunity under reformative treatment of indicating his desire to reform if he still possessed any. The prisoner would be detained for reformative treatment for a period not exceeding three years. FORGERY. Richard Haslani Smith, convicted of forgery at Greymouth, was represented by Mr C. S. Thomas, who said that Smith, on, his return from long service at the war was suffering from tuberculosis, and hj» was given a full pension. Having leisure time he dabbled in bookmaking and gambling, but he had lately shown n desire to reform, and had arranged to go into business in Dunedin. He" had reimbursed the man who etckxl to lose by the forgery. -■• „,,.:__■ His Honour said that the Probation On> cer"s report was that Smith was a reputed card-sharper. When arrested he had; a "roller sweat" (a gambling device) and die© and oards. His occupation was given as "labourer, guesser, and card-sharper." Prisoner would be sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour. j MAGISTERIAL. ||j§y MONDAY. (Before Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. One first offender was fined ss, in default 24 hours' imprisonment, and four otfcerß were each fined 10s,' the amount of their bail. Annie Fraser, a second offender, was convioted and fined ss, in default 24 hours' imprisonment, and William Rodgers, another second offender, was fined 10s, in default 48 hoursimprisonment. Harry Bowser was convicted and fined 20s, in default .48 hours* imprisonment, on two charges of drunkenness. Richard Cole was convicted and fined ss, in, default 24 hours, for drunkenness. A charge of obscene language was dismissed. Michael Sheehan appeared on two charges of drun-s kenness. He waa fined 10s, in default AS hours' imprisonment, .on one charge, and was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment on the other. BROKEN ORDER. Hugh Miller appeared on charges of drunkenness and of having broken his. prohibition order. He was ordered to pay £1 16s medical expenses on the first, and was convicted and fined 20s and cost* on th« second charge. DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. Robert Flannery was charged with having been drunk and disorderly, and with having wilfully damaged a hansom cab, the property of George Clutterhuck. He was convicted and fined 20s, in default three days' imprisonment, on- the first charge, and was ordered to pay expenses (£2 10s> on the second. AN! INDECENT ACT. Elizabeth Hensley, aged 64, charged with having committed a grossly indecent act in Hagley Park, was admitted to probation for 12 months. Stephen Hamilton, aged 69 years, charged with having committed a grossly indecent aot in Hagley Park, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour, ASSAULT. John McDougalT was convicted and fined £4, in default seven days' imprisonment, on a charge of having assaulted a man with his fist. REMANDED. Annie Coleman, aged 59 years, was charged I with being an idle and disorderly person in that she habitually consorted with reputed thieves and prostituted. She was remanded to appear o*n November 16th, and was ordered to remain in the Solvation Army Home in the meanwhile. KAIAPOI. (B«fore Messrs J. H. Blackwell and W. Doubleday, J.P.'a) In G._ Luisetto r. R. J. Taylor, claim £ls 13s, judgment was given for defendant by default, with costs £2 14s. In. L. C. B. Fuldseth v. L. Oldham, claim £4 IBs 10d, judgment was given for defendant, with costs £1 7s fcl. In W. Baker v. P. Roberts, claim £5 3s 6d, judgment was given for defendant, with costs £1 10»' 6d. IN OTHER PLACES. EXTENSIVE THEFTS .FROM DRAPERY ESTABLISHMENT. (PBKSI ASSOCIATION XELKQBAH.) AUCKLAND, November 7. At the Police Court William Leslie Foster, aged l twenty-eight, was charged with having ptolen goods valued «t £781; William John Rushton, with having received goods valued at £682 8s 7d, knowing them to be dishonestly obtained-; 'James. Barlow, aged twentynine, with 'having: received boots valued at [ 83s, knowing them to be dishonestly obtained; and Joseph Francis Dowling, with having received goods valued at £l2 7s, I knowing them to bo iEshonestly obtained. | Foßter pleaded guilty. James M. Oaughey stated that Foster was in charge of Smith and Oauhgey's mail order depart- ; ment for 6ome years, until the irregularities. ! Ho admitted having sent out goods to an- , other man unknown to the firm. The police had received stolen good's valued at £7Bl. Foster w»s committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. ' Barlow pleaded guilty, was ordered to make restitution, and to come up for sentenc» in twelve months. Dowling pleaded guilty, and waa admitted to probation for two years and ordered to make restitution.

Rusltton w« charged with, having received Roods valued «t £SS2 from Foster, we3l knowing that thsy were stolen. Accused had opened a shop at Hamilton where goods valued at £4OO were recovered. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial.