SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 283, 24 August 1908, Page 8

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

(DY TELEGRArn—rKF.SS ASSOCIATION.) Christchiirch, August 23. . Tho criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were resumed before Mr* . Justice Denmstoii yesterday morning, when a number of prisoners were sentenced. ' William Preston and Alexander Gardener, found guilty earlier in tho sittings of theft from tho person, came, up for sentence. His Honour ordered each accused to .enter into' his own recognisances to come up for sentence when called upon. His Honour deferred passing sentence on John Herbert Jliug, who pleaded guilty in the Lower Court to indecent assault on a girl under sixteen yoars of age, until ho had obtained some further information. ...... Stanley Herbert Joseph was mdictcd' for that on July 34 he indecently assaulted a girl under sixteen years of age. The jury after a retirement brought, in a verdict of guilty. Accused was then indicted on a similar charge against another girl under sixteen years of age. Ho pleaded guilty. His Honour, in' sentencing prisoner, said that if ho thought that,tho Wo cases, both occurring practically at the same timo and under the same influences, had been isolated cases, or that thero was tho slightest ground for the idea that accuscd was addicted to conduct such as that of which ho bad been convicted, ho would sentence bira to a lengthy term of imprisonment. His Honour had, however, tho statement of tho Crown authorities that thero was 110 suggestion of tliat sort, and that thero was no reason to doubt accused's statement that (except as to tho matter of an assault a number of years ago, for which accused was not actually sentenced) accuscd had for twentythreo years borne a good character. There was also tho fact that the acts of_ indecency for which accused had been convicted woro simply acts of lewdness with nothing of what might bo called a sexual clement about them. Children must, however, be protected from such aberrations. His • Honour added that ho was giving accused the foil benefit of his provious good character. Accused was sentencod to six mouths' imprisonment.