LAW REPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 285, 26 August 1908, Page 8

LAW REPORTS.

SUPREME COURT. ' CRIMINAL SESSIONS. YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. The Criminal Sittings were resumed yesterday morning, Mr. Justice Cooper taking his seat at 10 o'clock. BREAKING, ENTERING, AND THEFT. SENTENCE OF TWO YEARS. Edward George Hansen, a young man, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking, ■entering, and theft at Eketaliuna, was sot forward. His Honour, in passing sentence, said that he did not see any particular reason for extending any great consideration to prisoner. Sonie years ago prisoner was convicted of breaking and entering. It was true that prisoner was comparatively young. Prisoner had also been convictcd of theft. His Honour saw by a written statement mado by prisoner that ho desired to tako up laud. If prisoner had that intention, why had ho again \fallen into crime P Prisoner also stated that he had a wifo and two children dependent on him.' By a report which was before him his Honour observed that prisoner was living apart from his wifo. Prisoner's character was also stated 1 to bo indifferent. Thero was only one way of dealing with tho offence in question—by sending tho offenders to gaol. Ho would tako into consideration tho fact that prisoner served his country in South Africa for some years. Prisoner would bo sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour. CHARGE AGAINST A YOUNG MAN.

JURY DIRECTED TO ACQUIT. Arthur Nankivell, a young' man, was charged with having, on May 15, at Lower Hutt, criminally assaulted a girl aged 15 years and eight months. Prisoner, who was represented by Mr. Wilford, pleaded not guilty. Tho caso for tho Crown was that prisoner took prosecutrix into his father's shop, whero he, allegedly, committed tho offenco complained of. Prosecutrix's statements wero not conclusively borne out by the medical testimony. Evidenco was given to tho effect that proseeutrix was seen coming out of tho shop. Regarding tho age of tho proseeutrix thore was no definite evidence. Detective Connolly stated that prisoner told him that the girl was not in tho shop on tho night in question.

His Honbnr, in summing up, said tho crucial point in tho caso was tho ago of the girl. Thero was not sufficient evidonce to justify tho jury in coming to tho, conclusion that sho was under tho ago of sixteen years. Ho would therefore direct the jury to return a verdict of not guilty. The jury returned a verdict accordingly, and the prisoner was discharged. Tho Court then adjourned until 10.30 this morning. '