SUPREME COURT.

Evening Post, Volume XLVI, Issue 52, 30 August 1893, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SESSIONS. Yesterday. (Before his Honor the Chief Justice ) ALLEGED RIPE.° Bernard Hansen, a lad of about 15, whose shoulders just rpached above tho dock, was arraigned on a charge of rape npon Eliza Stewart, a girl of about the same age, near "Wbodville, on tho 24tli June last. Mr. J. B, Harconrt was chosen foreman of the jury. JJr, Jellicoo appeared for the defence. The girl resides with her pironti a few miles out of Woodville, and it was alleged that she was assaulted by the accused on the to-dside on a Sunday afternoon, while she was on her way home from the township. No evidence was called for the defence. The jury letired about 11.30 p m., and returned half an-honr afterwards with a verdiot of Not Guilty. The Crown Prosecutor, in reply to Mr. Jellicoe, slid he would state next day whether he would proceed on a second count against the lad for Indecent assault. This Day, This morning Mr. Gully offered no evidence on the charge of indecent assault against Hansen, bnt at the request of Mr. Jellicoe a jury was empanelled, a formal verdict of J>ot Guilty rotrrned, and the accused was discharged. THE MAKTINBOUOITGH ASB4ULT AND ROBBERY CASF. Robert Johns, who was yeste:day convicted of robbery with violence from a shepherd named John M'Leod, wns brought np for sentence. His Honour said that the prisoner's record disc'osed a number of acti of violence on hiß pare since IS9O, such as assaults on the police, Ac. It was so far in his favour that ho had never been convicted of more serious crime, and that the police gave him the character of being a hard-working man except when ho came into town. Under these circumstances the sentence, which be had previously intended to be two years', would be one of twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour. AN OLD APFAIrt. Andrew Thompson pleaded Not Guilty to a charze of assaulting nrd robbing David Golding, a labourer, of £5 at Palmers ton North on the 14th May last. This is another phase of a c_se he_rd at the lost Criminal Sessions, when two men named M' Car thy and UiU. were convicted of the same offence and sentenced two years' imprisonment. Tho men hid bcemisitin'j a brothel, and upon leaving they set upor Golding, battered him about the face, and robbed him of his money. Thompson was alleged to be the man who took the money. Mr. Jellicoe appeared in bis defence, and Mr. J. Hutehens was foreman of the jury. Mr. Jellicoe, for the defence, contended that the prosecutor was so drunk at the time of the occurrence that the jury ought not to place much reliance on his evidence. The juryfonnd the prisoner Not Guilty, and he was discharged. A JOHN-STREET ROW. William Mudgeway was charged with maliciously wounding Louisa, Hollis, with intent, at Wellington, on the Btb June last. He pleaded NotGnilty. Mr. J. B. Harcourt was chosen foreman of the jury, and Mr. Coates appeared for the defence. Hollis and the prisoner had been living together in John-street, and she alleged that he came home in' the afternoon of the day in question and demanded sixpence to get some beer with. Because she would not give it him he struck her on the head with a bottle, inflicting injuries which necessitated her being removed to the Hospital. LLeft sitting.]