SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 308, 22 September 1908, Page 7

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

(" TELEGRAm—rEESS ASSOCIATION.) , ' • Cisborne, September 21. ■ At the Supremo Court, Dorothy Niccoll, who pleaded guilty in" the lower' Court to a charge of perjury, jvaa admitted to probation for, two years, :ilr. J ustico Edwards stating that it was only because of. her five young children that ho had granted her leniency. Edward Boniface, a youth who pleaded guilty to a charge'uf burglary at Waere'ngaahika, was admitted'to probation for one year, his Honour stating that it was clear that he had got into bad company, and was not himself a highwayman. Joseph Johnston and James. Keegan, who pleaded guilty to the same crime, were next sentenced, these being the men recently convicted of highway robberies at Christchurch: Johnston was sentohced to one year's imprisonment,- the sentence, to be cumulative on that he is already serving. He was also declared to be an habitual criminal. Keegan wiis sentenced to one year's imprisonment, a150...t0 be cumulative on that ho is already serving.

Thq Court is now hearing a case of alleged libel—Joseph Burke v. the "Gisborno Times" Company; claim £250 damages.

Napier, September 21. The Supreme Court sessions opened before Mr. Justice Chapman, who found himself able to'again congratulate tho district on tho absence of serious crime as evidenced by tho calendar, which contained six cases, all of minor importance.

John Brougb, alias Edward Robbie, was acquitted on the charge of assault at Mobaka, and found guilty of escaping from custody ot'Frasertown.' Sentence was deferred.

Hokitika, September 21. In the Supreme Court to-day, G. Connolly ffas chargod with perjury arising out of tho Westport murder case in May last. It is likelv .to '.last a week, there being about 70 witßrwuya, only three of whom wero disposed of to-'if.y. Anderson and Hallinon, formerly sailors on the s.s. Canopus, convicted at Nelson of manslaughter and sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment, were the principal witnesses. They positively denied Connolly's statements,' on which they were convicted, and on which tho present charge of perjury is foundod. They assert that they never saw Bourko, the murdered man, dead or alive, and gavo similar versions as to their movements on tho night of tho mnrder, and generally corroborated each other's evidence.