PRISONERS SENTENCED

Northern Advocate, 7 March 1927, Page 8

PRISONERS SENTENCED

SULLIVAN ON TRIAL,

NO BILL AGAINST McMINN, S' -

GISBORNE, This Day,

The following prisoners were sentenced at the Supreme' Court: —Alfred 'Stanley Thoi'burn, a civil servant, one year’s probation and ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution. Te Ua Earn, attempted carnal knowledge, one year’s probation. The trial is proceeding of John Sullivan,, charged with the murder of Jeremiah Williams, near Opotiki on December 1. - -

The Grand Jury found a no bill against Garnet Wolseley McMinn, indicted at the Supreme Court this morning on a charge Of murdering Robert Cecil Thelwall, who died from injuries received after being struck by McMinn and falling on the pavement, Mr Justice Ostler said it was doubtful if McMinn could be sent to trial on any charge, let alone murder. The evidence showed he had been thrice struck by Thelwall without retaliating, and who then finally struck deceased a light blow, but it was doubtful whether the fall was caused ,by% this or by stumbling over the kerb. To proceed with the trial was not only a waste of the time of the Court, but an outrage to accused. —Press Assn.

BURGLAR AND THIEF. ’ REFORMATION & HARD LABOUR. I AUCKLAND, This Day. . At the Supreme Court, Mr Justice Herdman .sentenced Alfred Turnbull for breaking, entering, theft, and attempted breaking and entering to reformative detention for two years. Henry Cooper, for theft at Tauranga (at present serving three years ’ reformative detention) to three years’ hard labour concurrent with his present sentence.—Press Assn. BOY FOR REFORMATION. MATCHITT GETS PROBATION. GISBORNE, This Day. Stanley Matchitt and Joseph Collins appeared for sentence on charges of breaking and entering and theft at Opotiki. Mr Justice Ostler said Collins was only 19 and had deliberately chosen a career of crime. He was sentenced to three years at the Borstal Institute. Matchitt was granted two years’ probation,—Press Assn.