SUPREME COURT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 61, 11 February 1925, Page 11

SUPREME COURT.

LARGE VOLUME OF CRIME. MURDER CHARGES AT DUNEDIN. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Feb. 10. At the criminal sittings of the Supremo Court, Mr Justice Sim, addressing the Grand Jury, said thut on this occasion there was an unusually large volume of crime. While there were only four cases for the Grand Jury, eight persons were committed for sentence. The most serious charge was one of murder against Phillip Gordon Sutherland in connection with the death of John James Ryan. Medical evidence showed that death was caused b 3; respiratory failure due to haemorrhage of the base of the brain and the case for the Crown was that the injuries were caused by kicking; SENTENCES AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, Fob. 10. At tho Supremo Court Lawrenco James Prendergast, solicitor, win* sontenced to threo years' hard labour on four chargos of theft. Counsel pleaded that his lapse was duo to over indulgence in liquor. Mr Justice Herdman said that the public had trusted Prendergast to the extent of £4OO and he abused that trust by putting the money into his pocket. Edwajd Williams, alias Millward, for forgery and uttering, was sentenced to six months' hard labour. Turi Ikaka Ngakura, for indecent assault at Rawene, received two years' reformative treatment. Jack Ralstcm Wyllie, for theft from a dwelling, was placed for three years on probation and ordered to make restitution of £66 Bs. Frederick Alexis Wildman, aged 17i, for breaking and entering and theft received tlrree years' reformative treatment. Jas, F. Ritchie, a recent arrival from England, who stole £9l of his employer's money in the Thames district, was sentenced to a year's hard labour. William Harold Cosgrove, for breaking and entering and theft, and attempting to enter a jeweller's shop, was sentenced to 18 months' hard labour. Horace Ryan, for indecent assault on a female, was sentenced to two years' reformative treatment. George William Bird, for breaking and entering and theft, received two years' hard labour. VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY. AUCKLAND, Feb. 10. At the Supreme Court the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on a charge of manslaughter against Wilfred James Wheeler in connection with the death of Richard Rhodes Hartwell, a.gcd 69. who was run over by a bus owned and driven by defendant on November 17. CHRISTCHURCH SESSIONS. OHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 10. In his chargo to the Grand Jury at the Supreme Court this morning Mr Justice Adams said he regretted that out of nine prisoners two wero charged with rapo and three with indecent assault. There were four charges of offences of the character called "sexual." Theßo cases were on the increase in this young country. He hoped that at the worst this was merely a passing phase.