SOTPEEME COUET.-Tuesday. CRIMINAL SESSIONS. (Before hi? Honor Sir Gr. A Arney )

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXV, Issue 3761, 8 September 1869, Page 5

SOTPEEME COUET.-Tuesday. CRIMINAL SESSIONS. (Before hi? Honor Sir Gr. A Arney )

The Chabge op Selling Arms to Natives.— Nathaniel Dorrington, who was oa Monda} acquict-ed by the jury oa a charge of selling ponder to a uative named Hapimana without a license, was yesterday arraigned on an indictment charging him with selling three guns to the name uative, iu contravention of the Arms Act, 1860, and the subsequent Acts up to 1866 — Mr. Brooktield prosecuted ou behalf of the Crown, and, as on the day before, fche prisoner was defended by Mr. Hesketh.— A fresh jury (of whom Mr, J. Biame was foreman) was sworn m, and Mr. Brookfield, having laid the facts of the case before the jury, proceeded to call witnesses. — Mr. Mainwarmg wus sworn in aa inteipreter, and Mr. Naughtou hiring proved his authority to prosecuts under the Arms Act, Messis. Atkinson and Cht-e>e-inan, from H.M. Cubtoms, deposed to i<8Uin'j; licenses to Mr. Evitt, gunmaker, in the mnntas of October, December, and January, 1868 9.— Mr. George Evitr, gunmaker, produced the register of aims sold by him in October, JUecember, and January, 1869. On referring to that register, date October 20. 1868, found that he sold a double-barrel gun to H. G. Dorringt >n. On December 31 sold Nathaniel Dorrinaton a double-barrel gun. On the 14h January, 1869, another double-barrel gun was Rold to T. .Dorrington. These guns were all sold on licenses produced by the buyer from the Customs. The guns produced were of ttie very commonest desciiption. Would not undertake to identify those guns, as he did not often have guns of such cooamou quality. Identified the mau to whom he had Soli the guns he had mentioned. — The next witness was Hapimana, who gave evidence of the purchase of the guflg from theprisorer in nearly the identical words ot the day before. — The man (Jropp and Constable Codgrove gave •lrnilar te^imony to that given by them at the Police Court, — At the conclusion of the evidence for the Crown, it was agreed that the prisonet's witnesses should not be re-examined, but that their evidence should be read over and received. — Mr. Hesketh thea maie a powerful appeal to the jury, after which Mr. Brookfield replied on behalf of the Oi own, and his H onor summed up at great length, leading over the whole of the evidence — The jury reiired to consider their veidict at a quarter past six, and returned into Court at twenty five minutes to eight o'clock, with a verdict of .Not guilty. — tlis Honor a^ked Mr. Brookfield if he intended to proceed with the third charge. — Mr. BrookfHd replied that he did n t, after the verdict which had been returned, as the evidence was precisely similar in th.it case. — A verdict of Not guilty was then taken iu the third case by consent, and the prisoner was discharged. The Charge against the Natives — Sentence. — I'lie three natives, Paraild, Mohi y and Barciri, w'io pleaded guilty on Thursday to a breach of the Arms Act, by unlawful!} removing arms and ammunition, were brought up for sentence. — Mr. Biookfield said that, in the case of these p isoners, a lighter sentence might satisfy the ends of justice than if they were men who were moro thoroughly acquainted with the laws of the country. — Jn passing sentence his Houor said that the clandestine manner in which they had removed -he arms showed that they knew they were duin,/ what was wrong. As for Paraihi, he should rt commend his case t> tbe Governor, he having giveu evidence for the Crown in the other case. The sentence of the Court wa-i that, they be each sentenced to twelve mouths' imprisonment with hard labour. Mr. Brookfield said that his Honor would find by the Act that, in addition to the term of imprisonment, the prisoner must be ordered to pay nome fine. His Honor then in addition to the first sentence ordered each of the prisoners to pay a fine of £5. This concluded the Criminal Sessions, and the Comt adjourned at eight o'clock. The Civil Sessions will commence on Tuesday.