SUPREME COURT, DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1801, 11 December 1896, Page 2

SUPREME COURT, DUNEDIN.

The following cafeesi of local interest were dealt with on Tuesday, December Ist. : Herbert Williamson (24) pleaded Guilty to a charge of f(>ri.'iu'4 the name ot James Maidet to a cheque for L 5 on the Rank oi .New Z.aland, at Crnrowe 1, Mr Hanlon appeared for the prisoner, at.d asked that that he should no admitted to probation, on the ground, that, the accused v. as of good character and, thut thin i'as his first offence. Mr Bag it (the prosecutor) siiid tlie pf.Jice reported that accused was born in i<4ew Zealand, v/as a shoemaker by trade, aud that nothing whs kn.wn against him previously.

The facta on the ciepoaifcions were that Wiliiamsr.n forged a cht que and presented it to the b mk, the ba k detected it at once and the. prosecutor tried to got him out ot it. His Honor snid thut the report of the probation officer being favorable, he was prepared to granc Mr Haldol's application, bnt he would like to know what Wuliamson's means were in view of an order as to expenses. Mr Hanlon said that accused-was a. par ner with his brother in a I usiness out of which they made LI or 25s a week eu'h. His Honor gaid * A» the case comes horn Cromwell the expenses will be taitl.y heavy, and I think it wilt be reasonable \i he is admi' ted to prob;ition, for say 12 months, that he should pay 4- per week towards the expenses ot tbe pros, cution. That wonld come to I 10 8a altogether; will be the order, prisoner. Yoi will be on pn.bati n for i 2 months, and during that time pay 4s j er week towards lb© ©xi ensert of the pros; cntictt. BREAKING. ANI> JiNTERING. i WiliWm Wilki; son (17) was charged with having, on the 2nd of iNoVbDlher, broken into and entered bv day the dwelling bonse of James M'Closkey, ;at Ha Id Hill Fkt, Conuty of Vincent, with intent to steal, and with stealing -therefrom the siim of LB. A second count charged the accused with steaU ing the .nm, mentioned, from the dwelling house. The accused, who was defended,by Mr Solomon, pi aded guilty to the isecondcouiit. Mr Haggitt accepted the plea, and said t at it was simply th« question of whether the door was shut or open, If the doer was open the acens d was not gtul'.y on the fitst count, and he could not prove that the door was shut. In any case, the accused had only to turn a key or a handle, as the key was m the lock of the door. Mr Solomon said he understood the probation officer had reported recommending that the prisoner bhonl« be admitted to the provisions of tbe Act. !Vlr Haggift said the prisoner had only lett school some two years ago, and the police and one of the justices for the district were prepared to give the boy's parents a good character. Mi Solomon said that, £6 out of the .£B. were in the hands oi the police. The boy bad not been earning money, and to make the contribution excessive would mean that the father would have to provide the money. His Honor said : Looking at your age, prisoner,, and at the probation officer's report, I think on the whole 1 may be justified in giving you another chance, and I hope that this will be a waruiug to yon. You. will be ad minted to probation for a period of 12 months, but one of the conditions imposed will be that you pay £2 within J 4 days to make up th* balance ot the money which has been s f .o!en, and also that dnririg the period of probation you pay 2s 6d per week towards the expenses oi the prosecution.