TO-DAY'S COURT. CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 29, 4 February 1908, Page 8

TO-DAY'S COURT. CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

■ - PRISONERS SENTENCED.. Tha criminal sittings of the Supremo* Court were continued to-day, before His Hoiiour Mr. Justice Chapman. . John Moffett and Charles Mack, who had been found guilty on a charge of having broken into Barrett'6 Hotel and •tolen goods therefrom, were put forward for sentence. '' The Crown Prosecutor stated that theTe were several convictions for theft and other offences against Moffett from 1899 to 1904. In 1904 he was sentenced to three years for breaking and entering. Since the expiration of that sentence, in January, 1907, he said he had been working and endeavouring to live an honest life. j Mack read a statement in which he said that Moffett was innocent and that another man, who should have been convicted, gave him the stolen goods to pawn. That man he alleged kept a place in town, the resort of thieves and prostitutes aud loose barmaids. "I implore your Honour's clemency for poor Moffett," he remarked in conclusion. The Crcwn Prosecutor said there were three previous convictions for theft and false pretences against Mack. \ His Honour expressed the opinion that '-'neither prisoner was innocent- He could not do less than sentence Mack to two yean' hard labour. Moffett's Tecord was much worse than Mack's. This Was a serious offence, and he would be sentenced 1 to two years' hard labour and declared to be an habitual criminal. ' Moffett (as he left the dock) : "We |?arted on tho 6hore." ALLEGED THEFT OF MONEY. Archibald M'Nab pleaded not guilty to a charge of having stolen tho sum of £115 from David Sutherland, at Wellington, on 27th May, 1907. Prisoner was undefended by counsel. Mr. J. Murphy was foreman of the jury empanelled to try the caso. The chief features of the caso have already been reported. From the opening statement of the Crown Prosecutor it appeared that David Sutherland was a deaf and dumb man, who, on 21st May, 1907, was discharged from Wellington gaol. At that time he had in his possession a cheque for £115. On the 27th May he cashed the cheque, rereiving five £20 notes and fourteen" £1 notes, and 20s in silver. On that day too, he was seen in company with three men named Ryan, Kines, and prisoner M'Nab. Hines had not since been , found. Ryan's evidence was that he and Hines were walking in Wellington when they met Sutherland, and subsequently they were joined by M'Nab. Later Hines and M'Nab went with Sutherland into a convenience, and whin they came out without Sutherland, Hines gave him a £20 note, wb^ch he cashed at an hotel. The evidence would also show that the other men^ cashed £20 notes, during the same day. That was the last seen of Sutherland alive. On the 18th June his body was found in the harbour. Further, the evidence of the police was that after the magisterial enquiry, while on the way to gaol, M'Nab said : "I got the money ; I gave the other man half, but he split on me." In the course of his evidence, Ryan stated that when he was waiting outside the "convenience at the Te Aro Hotel, he saw prisoner with his hand in Sutherland's pocket. They then went to the Cricketers' Arms Hotel, and M'Nab gave him a £20 note, telling him. to call for three drinks, and "act the bushman." He did so. Later M'Nab gave him another £20 note, and he also gave one to Hines. , , , ' Tho jury retired at 1.5 p.m.', and a;t 2.30 yp.m. i returned with a verdict iof guilty. Sentence was deferred till a later stage of the sitting.