SUPREME COURT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 August 1924, Page 4

SUPREME COURT.

GRAVE OFFENCES. (by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, Aug. 7. At the Supreme Court to-day Alexander Allison, for arson, was sentenced to twelve months’ hard labour. Walter Battarbee, for attempted carnal knowledge and indecent assault on males and females, all relating to six children from an industrial school, boarded out at his farm at Waikouaiti, received a sentence of ten years’ imprisonment. JUR Y FAIL TO AC REE. DUNEDIN, Aug. 7. At the Supreme Court, in the ease of John McCosker, tried on Wednesday on charges of indecent assault and assault, the jury brought in a verdict of not guilty on all counts, except one —of indecent assault—in which cdse it failed to agree. At a retrial* to-day on this particular count, the jury o ?ai ?v4v iled a " ree - His Honour ~* r 1 iam ■ Im thereupon instructed the Crown Prosecutor to communicate with the Attorney-General to ascerra third trial should take place. His Honour expressed the opinion that, seeing the accused had been acquitted on the more serious charge the Attorney-General would be justined m entering a nolle prosequi. AUCKLAND SESSIONS. ~ . AUCKLAND, Aug. 7. Al-r Justice Herdman admitted Douglas Roy Billing, for theft of postal packets at Taumarunui to probation for two years. John Perry, for indecent assault on a, girl...at Thames was, in ..Y ieW; ° * ns mental condition, let- off with two years’ reformative detention under the supervision of a doctor. Henry Richard Hawkes, a tram conductor, for the theft of a. purse left in a tram car. was admitted to probation iQr two, years.