Supreme Court. CRIMINAL SESSION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIV, Issue 1037, 5 June 1857, Page 3

Supreme Court. CRIMINAL SESSION.

The Court was opened on Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock, by his Honor the Chief Justice. The following Grdnd Jury having been empinnelled, and briefly charged by his Honor, retired to the Grand Jury room : — John Watson Bain, Hugh Carletop, Archibald Clark, William Connell. Thomas Crummer, .Tame* Dilworth, Robert Graham, William S Grahame, Thomas Henderson, William Xlason, John Israel Montefiore, David Nathan, James O'Neill, Daniel Pollen, and John Salmon, Esquhes ; Alexander Kennedy, Esquire (foreman). After a brief absence, true bills were found upon the Miuving indictments: — liegina o. Thomas Hill, uttermz counterfeit coin. There were in all four indictments against "he prisoner for a similar offence, one of which wds isjutued by the Giand Jury, and other two, the witnesses ior the Crown being natives, were withdrawn. On a fifth indictment, foi having a die for coining illegally in his possession, a true bill was found. Tiue bills were also found against John Nolan for larceny; Henry Budin, for stealing in a dwelling house; Alice Chambei lain, for stealina; a watch; and Hcere lluka, for wounding a cow. The indictments, Ilegina v. Commons, tor burglary, and Regina v. Waitford, for lurceny, weie ignored by the Grand Jury, whose duties, on this occasion, extended to unusual length.

Utleriiiff Counterfeit Coin. Thomas Hill, labourer, was indicted in that, on the 20th March last, at Auckland, he had ielomously in his possession one die in and upon which there was made and impressed the figure of both tke sides of a piece of the Queen's current coin of the realm commonly called a half crcrivn, against-the-fortmh'" the statute, &c\ Owing to the deafness of the -prisoner, some difficulty was experienced -in making him comprehend the nature oi the indictment. It was ultimately read to him by Mr. McElwain, and he pleaded not guilty. Ihe particulus ot this case hare already been before our readers. The prisoner, who had been prouonsly con\icted of coining, succeeded, duung March lafet, in passing base metal to Mr. Londergnn, Mr Mcftarvey. and otheis. On his house being searched, the die was discovered concealed beneath it. The evidence was very clear, and thp jury at once found the prisoner guilty. His Honor passed sentence of penal servitude within the Colony for six years. Ihe remaining indictment was not proceeded upon.

{Airceny. John Nolan was indicted with having, on or about the 7th March last, stolen one game cock and one fowl, the property of Mr. James Henry King. The prisoner, on the night referred to, had been caught in the very act of decamping with the poultry under his ar.n, and the case against him was very conclusive. The jury returned a verdict of "guilty," and his Honor passed sentence of "Imprisonment in the common gaol of Auckland for the term of three calendar months, and to be kept at hard labour."

Stealing from a Dwelling -house. Henry Bmlin stood charged with having, on the 3rd day ot M.iy last, stolen from a dwelling house eighteen sovereigns, tho property of Michael Buchet. The robbery, it will be recollected, was committed at Freeman's Bay, and the parties concerned are Belgi.ms by birth and brickmakers by trade. Mr. De Laville acted as interpreter. The prisoner made a full confession of his guilt, and expressed the utmost contrition. His Honor pßS<?ed sentence of "Imprisonment in the common gaol of Auckland for the period of twelve months, and to be kept athaVd labour," —remarking that, in consideration of the prisoner's previous good character, and of his having pleaded guilty, it was possible that his Excellency the Governor, if applied to, might commute the sentence.

Larceny. Alice Chamberlain pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging her with having, on the 18th day of March last, stolen one silver watch, the goods and chattels of one John Mason. The prisoner was defended by Mr. Merriman. The evidence, particularly that of Maiy Robinson, was \ery lame and contradictory. The case was brought to an abrupt conclusion by the Honor, who said that the charge was obviously untenable, and directed the Jury to return a verdict of not guilty. Verdict returned accordingly.

Wounding a Cow, Hcere Htilt», a nativp, was charged with having, on the sth day of April last, at Mahurangi. maliciouslywounded one cow, the property of John Sullivnn. The prisoner, for whose defence Mr. Merriman appeared, pleaded guilty. His Honor, taking into consideration that the prisoner had already been two months in custody, passed the nominal sentence of "Imprisonment in the common gaol of Auckland for a period of two days." The Court adjourned about five o'clock. The Ciul Sittings will be held on the Bth-