SUPREME COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 239, 2 July 1908, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SITTING. PRISONERS SENTENCED. Mr. Justice Coopor yesterday passed sentence on two prisoners. THEFT, FALSE PRETENCES, AND FORGERY. ■ ; Ernest Wehrstedt, a young man, who had pleaded guilty to a series,, of charges of theft, false pretences, and forgery at Ormondville, was unrepresented by counsel, but handed in to tho Court a written statement. Addressing prisoner, His Honour said: -It is unfortunate that a man of your youth should liavo committed so many offences, of dishonesty. Thoso which you have committed in this Dominion liavo all been committed within the past twelve months. I shall treat thesj offences as having been committed about the same time as others in respect of which you have already been' sentenced. You will be sentenced to a term of two years from dato oil the present charges, which moans a slight increase on the sentences which you are now serving. ACTUAL IIODIJA" HARM. Joseph Zimmerman, a young man, who had admitted in tho Lower Court bavins done actual bodily harm to Athol Zani, wit£ intent so to do, was then set forward: Mr. Levi, on behalf of the prisoner, said that tho offenco was committed during, a drunken row among a number of sailors and firemen. Prisoner, who was intoxicated at the time, did not repollect having used a knife on.Zani. .'lt would appear that prisoner went on board his ship about 10 or 11 o'clock on the. night in question.. The cic was a mixed one, several nationalities beiiiL, represented. A row started, and Zani was injured. Two others had also becm charged ■with the offence, but had been discharged owing toinsufficiency of evidence. Prisoner had received great provocation, having been struck over the head with the chimney of a stove. .It was probable that prisoner then became excited and used a knife. , His Honour: There was a considerable break between the two events. Then again, prisoner stabbed Zani no less than ten times, one blow penetrating a. lung. Counsel: No doubt the matter is a very serious one, but I .suggest that the fact that the man Was under the influence of liquor should be taken into consideration. Addressing- prisoner, His Honour said: You have pleaded guilty to a serious offence —not only that you committed actual bodily harm, but that you did so with intent; which makes the offence much more serious. This is not the case of • a man inflictins a siuglo wound during a drunken row. The offenco was not committed until some considerable time after you wore'struck. I should take into consideration the fact that you wero under the > influence of liquor at the time. Tbe_ offence is, however, oi.o which I 'must punish with. severity. You will );e imprisoned for. three years with hard labour.