Supreme Court.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 36, 12 February 1901, Page 2

Supreme Court.

Per Press Association.—Copyright. . Christchurch, last night,

The Supreme Court criminal sessions opened before Judge Edwards to-day. For breaking and entering, Cecil G. Cunningham, Alfred Gedson, and Ernest Hancock came up for sentences. Cunningham was sentenced to two years, Gedson to twelve months, and Hancock to probation for twelve months. The accused are mere lads, but this was not the first offence. McGowan, for breaking and entering,'was sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment. Stanley Joseph got two years’ probation for assault on a barman at the Grosvenor Hotel.

The Supreme Court returned no bill in each of the three indictments charging J. B. Kirk, a traveller, with appropriating £295, tho property of G. L. Boath and Co., his employers. There was a peculiar incident at the Supreme Court to-day. A Maori at the Chatham Islands S.M. Court pleaded guilty to a chargo of forgery and uttering, and was brought to Christchurch for sentence. There was some informality in the papers. The Crown Prosecutor got permission to place the case before the Grand Jury, simply to correct the informality, when, to the surprise of everyone, they threw out the bill. - Napier, last night. At the opening of the Supreme Court this morning, Mr Justice Denniston referred to the death of the Queen and to the immense improvements that had taken place in the administration of criminal justice during her reign. The humane spirit which had been introduced during her reign had been largely due to the practical influence and advice of the Queen, and he could only express a hope that the same progress would be made during the century just commenced and under the reign of the present Sovereign. The calendar is light. Two prisoners, Herrold, charged with causing actual bodily harm, and Concher, false pretences, have been adjudged insano since committal. The Grand Jury threw out a bill against Phil.[Smith, charged with indecent assault. Of seven cases before the Supreme Court, the grand jury throw out the bill against Phil, Smith, charged with indecent assault. Herrold, committed for a serious assault, was not presented, as he had been declared insane. Alexander Croucher, charged with false pretences, was found to be insane by tho jury. Charles Williams, indicted for indecent assault on two little girls, was found not guilty. Herbert Symes pleaded guilty to embezzlement. Probation was refused, but as prisoner had already been five months in gaol an additional sentence of one month only was imposed. AN IMPORTANT CASE. Dunedin, last night.

At the Supreme Court to-day, a case was heard in which Mrs Whale claimed <£2oo damages for injuries sustained on the Dunedin and Ivaikorai Tramway Company’s line. She was a passenger on the up-car. On top of the steep grade, the car stopped, and the driver let it go back to pick up the cable rope. Mrs'Whale got frightened at the speed and jumped off. She herself said she did not remember what happened through the fright, but she had no intention of jumping off, as the thought of the Chinaman being killed by doing so was running in her mind. The injury consisted of the end of her thumb being enlarged, and she had not recovered the normal use of her thumb, though she might do so. The jury returned a verdict for £l3O, and the Judge gave costs. A stay of execution was granted pending a motion for nonsuit.