SUPREME COURT.-CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6281, 21 June 1882, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.-CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

Tuesday, Juke 20. (Before His Honor Mr Justico Gillies.) His Honor took his seat at 10 a.m. FOBGERY. Tamati Hautapu pleaded not guilty to a second charge of having forged and altered a cheque for £4 on the Bank of New Zealand at Gisborne. Mr Finn appeared for the prisoner. This charge ; was a very similar one to that disposed of on Monday, and the jury, after a short retirement, returned a verdict of not guilty.

The two remaining charges against the same prisoner were not proceeded with, the Crown Prosecutor Having entered a : nolle prosequi. His Honor cautioned the prisoner to be more careful in his conduct for the future, and discharged him. • HOUSE-STEALING. James Conway was charged with having stolen on the 20th of February last a horse the property of Frank Halpin. Mr Lee appeared for the prisoner, who pleaded not guilty. The evidence in this case wag published in the Hebald when the preliminary examination was held.

The jury, without leaving the Court, .found the prisoner guilty, and a sentence of two years' imprisonment with hard labor was passed upon him. ATTEMPTED EAPE. Hemi Paroa pleaded not guilty to a charge of having attempted to commit a rape upon a Maori girl named Irihapeti Puha, aged about ten years.

The evidence of the child and of her parents was taken. The details are unfit for publication, but it was conclusively proved that the commission of the offence was attempted.

The jury, after a brief absence from the Cqnrt, returned a vordiot of guilty, and his Honor passed a sentence of six months' imprisonment with one whipping of 25 lashes.

The Court then adjourned until this morning at 10 o'clock.