PRISONERS SENTENCED

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 58, 5 September 1914, Page 8

PRISONERS SENTENCED

— «. — SUPEEME COURT CASES. Five prisoners were brought before His Honour Mr. Justice Hosking at the Supreme Court to-day for sentence. UNRECOVERED JEWELLERY. William or James GiUham, a young man who had been convicted of breaking and entering at Wanganui on 6th August, the offence involving the thett of over £300 worth of jewellery, said that the property unrecovered by tho police had been destroyed. Mr. H. 11. Ostler (of the Crown Law Office} informed his Honour that the jewellery still missing was valued at £100. His Honour remanded accused for a fortnight, after warning him that he had better try and remember where the missing articles had been placed, and that upon his reply would depend the punishment to which he would be subjected. THEFT OF MONEYS. Leslie Walker, convicted of theft of moneys at Wellington on 2nd September, was represented by Mr. H. E. Anderson, who stated that accused was a young married man with one child, and had parents, old and respected, residing in Melbourne. Accused had had to / work since he was fourteen years of a.g'e and had hitherto borne an exemplary character. The money had all gone to pay urgent trade debts and had not been squandered. Mr. Ostler explained that the principal creditor had seen accused's deed of assignment and had intimated he was prepared to take his proportion of the money in full payment of the amount owing to him. The Probation Officer's report was favourable. His Honour remarked that there was evidently no criminal intent on the part of Walker, and he would be ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. He would have to come up for sentence unless he paid the costs of the prosecution within one calendar month. ■ HIS FOURTH 'CONVICTION. Patrick Joseph O'Connor (18 years of age) and Ernest Jones (24 years) were placed in the dock for sentence on a charge of theft from a dwelling on 2nd September, at Wellington. Accused were unrepresented by counsel. O'Connor expressed contrition for the act, and in explanation said he had been drinking heavily at the time of its committal. He admitted that he had already been sentenced to three months' imprisonment for an offence committed at the same time. If he were given another chance h© had a good homo and plenty of work to go to. The Judge : I see this is your fourth conviction. You are liable to be declared an habitual criminal and you are only eighteen. O'Connor was sentenced to reformative treatment for a period not exceeding two years. Jones also pleaded for another chance. He explained that an offence of which he had been convicted on 3rd August consisted of receiving stolen property from O'Connor. Mr. Ostler stated that the jewellery stolen had been recovered. His Honour ordered Jones to come up for sentence when called upon and ordered him to pay the costs of the prosecution (£2 14s) within three months. If the amount was not paid he would be brought up for sentence. "If you lapse any more," added his Honour, "there is only gaol for you." ANOTHER SIX MONTHS. William Joseph O'Dvvyer, guilty of forgery on 2nd September at Wellington, had already been sentenced to two years' imprisonment for false pretences at Auckland. The accused was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, to take effect after the present term he is serving, and the reformative treatment he was previously ordered to undergo to come into operation at the expiry of the two terms. INQUEST The inquest concerning the death of Alice M'Carthy, which occurred suddenly ak her residence in Holloway-road on 23rd August, was concluded by Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., to-day. A verdict was returned in. accordance with the medical testimony of Dr. Kington Fyffe, that death was probably the result of a fall. DROWNING FATALITY (BT TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) ■ DUNEDIN, This Day. Samuel Chesney, aged 2£ years, eon of John Chesney, was accidentally drowned in tho Waitati River yesterday. RELIEF OF DISTRESS «. DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER. (BY TBLKURAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A deputation to Mr. Massey, headed by the Mayor and representing * the Trades Council, the Labour Department, and public bodies asked for assistance in the relief of local distress. The Premier said the war would have a serious effect on the finances. It was his opinion that the Government would be able to get money in London although at higher prices. Advances for workers' homes would be kept going, and not less than £100,000 would be spent. The Government would assist as much as financial circumstances would permit. BREACH OF PROMISE — u_^» — „—„ — (IT TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.) INVERCARGILL, This Day. At tho Supreme Court Alice Jane Urwin claimed £2500 damages from her cousin, Cuthbert Urwin, of Melbourne, for breach of promise. Defendant admitted the breach, and paid into Court £144 as damages and costs, giving as his reason for breaking the engagement an allegation that he had been keeping company with another. The jury awarded plaintiff £750. SAMSON AND DELILAH This work, a Biblical opera by the most distinguished of living French musicians, was first produced at Weimar in 1877, although it was written some years earlier. An exceptionally strong cast of soloists have been engaged by the Royal Wellington Choral Socioty for this work, which will be heard for the first time in New Zealand at the Town Hall on Friday week, the 18th, under the conductorship of Mr. Herbert Bloy. Two of the artistes engaged have already sung in "Samson ahd Delilah." Miss Mina Caldow took the part of Delilah in England early last year, while the tenor role "Samson" has also been sung previously by Mr. Walter Kirby. Mr Barry Coney, of Auckland, will take the part of the High Priest, Mr. F. G. Twiss that of Abimelech. Mr. Frank Young has been engaged to sustain the bass part of an aged Hebrew, and Mr. P. Cutforth that of the Philistine. The box plan will open at the Dresden on Friday morning next. On Monday a practice for soloists and orchestra will be held, for chorus only on Tuesday, and a Jull Cractice on Friday, all of which aro to c held ia St. John's Schoolroom,.