SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 282, 21 August 1908, Page 5

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

CHRISTCHURCH CRIMINAL CASES. (BY TELEGRAPH—TRESS ASSOCIATION.) Christchurch, August 20. The Supreme Cour.t was occupied all yesterday hearing cases of robbery under arms against Joseph Johnston, Frank Bolton, and James Kcegan. Tho offences wore said to havo been committed in May last. Tho caso for tho Crown concludcd this morning, and the accused Johnston addressed tho jury, as also did Bolton. After His Honour had summed up, tho jury retired. The same accused pleaded guilty to charges of breaking and entering promises at Woolston on May 12, and stealing clothing of tho value of £12; also with breaking into premises at Linwood on tho samo date, and stealing tobacco and cigarettes of tho value of £2. A .further charge of robbery under arms was held over, and will probably be withdrawn. His Honour will' deliver sentence on tho oftenccs to which accused pleaded guilty after tho jury's verdict in regard to tho highway robbery case. The jury_ in; the robbery under arms case, after 20 minutes' retirement, found a verdict of guilty against each ■ of the • accused on each of tho thrco charges heard. David Courtney, charged with theft of putso and £8 from'the person''of Michaol Ryan at.Riccarton Hotel, was found guilty and soutonced to three years' imprisonment, to run concurrently, with a sentcnco for assault and robbery prisoner is now serving.