SUPREME COURT SESSIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 827, 27 May 1910, Page 8

SUPREME COURT SESSIONS.

, AN EMBARRASSING CASE. i (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Palmerston North, Mav 25. When William Wortliington, ■ who had been convicted yesterday in the Supreme Court, on n charge of stealing two rings from Mrs. Annie.Brown, at Dannevirk'e, was, brought for sentence this morning, his Honour (Judge Cooper) said that ho could not make an order against a dying 1 man. It appeared that Worthingtcm' was in a very bad state of health, and was suffering from consumption. When asked if he had anything to say i why Eentenco should not be passed upon ■ him, Worthington stated that ho had already been in gaol ten weeks awaking , trial. He had been in five different hospitals in New Zealand receiving treatment, and had spent about two years in tho hospitals, Hβ had found it impossible ■ to get employment, and was previously i only receiving small sums of money from . Home, so that he was not in a position to' maintain himself. He had, However, . now been placed above the necessity of resorting to dishonest methods.of obtain- . ing a livelihood, as he was to receive ' larger sums of money from friends. He [ had probably only a few months to live, ■ and hoped .that he would not be sent to I gaol. His Honour remarked that Worthing- • ton had previously been twice convicted j for theft and twice for false pretences, i Ho was not a fit person for gaol cells, ! not only for his own sake, but for the sake of prisoners who might have to occupy the cells after him. Sub-Inspector O'Donovan stated prisoner might bo sent from gaol -to a sanatorium, just as other prisoners wero sent , from gaol to hospitals. The police regu- ] lations provided for that. \ Worthington was eventually sentenced I to ten days' imprisonment, without hard labour. The rings were ordered to be returned to . th« pownbroker until properly redeemed. OTHER CENTRES. DIVORCE CASES: (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Dunedin, May 26. At tho Supreme Court te-day a decree nisi was granted in. the following divorce eases:—Mary Gillett v. James Gillett, on the ground of habitual drunkenness and failing to support; Mary Reid v. Charles Reid, misconduct. SLANDER ACTION. Auckland, May' 26. The hearing of a slander action, brought by Montague Garnaut, oysterman, against James Phillips Bennett, Inspector of Fisheries for Auckland, i was concluded in the Supreme Court r to-day before Mr. Justice Edwards and - a special jury of four. The jury, after a long retirement, brought in a verdict : for the plaintiff for £50. His Honour ) reserved the question of costs. ',