SUPREME COURT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 2 May 1934, Page 2

SUPREME COURT

DUNEDIN SENTENCES (By Telegraph—Press Association) DUNEDIN, This Day. In the Supreme Court the following prisoners were sentenced by Mr Justice Kennedy : Peter McG'ormish, breaking and entering and Theft, 18 months' reformative detention; James Storey, for fraudulently stating that lie Jiad posted a postal packet containing money, 2 years’ probation ; Eric Norman Vincent, and George Dore, breaking and entering and theft, each two years’ imprisonment with hard labour; James Alexander Spence Tapp, incest, 3 vears’ hard labour. His Honour, referring to prisoner’s subnorniality, said it seemed true that lie was to be pitied, and that in his family history there was some explanation of his crime and indifference to its serious nature If it should appear that Tapp was definitely subnormal, and that the proper place for him was a mental hospital, the Prisons Board would act. Alexander Robert Spence and Margaret Spence, for an attempted false pretence in connection with a fire at the Ranfurly Hotel, were each fined £IOO in default 6 months imprisonment.

CHRISTCHURCH SESSION THEFT AND FORGERY CHARGES CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. In the Supreme Court Leslie Cecil Johnson, formerly ail accountant and organiser of the Gold Band Taxi Company, faced 24 charges of theft of moneys totalling £426 belonging to the ’ proprietor of the company, C. S. Trillo, and eight of forgery. The Crown alleged that Johnson obtained possession of the bank pass book and in addition had blank cheques which were signed by the proprietor and which were used to pay other accounts. Then, it was alleged, to cover up liis tracks the accused forged receipts and so defrauded the company. Tho Crown Prosecutor said Trillo had previously borrowed various sums from accused and now owed him £l5O, but any contention that accused was using this means to regain the money lent to Trillo could not be sustained. Trillowas unacquainted with office procedure, and adopted the most dangerous of ail practices, that of signing blank cheques. The accused took advantage of these methods and adopted a crude, primitive system of iheft which would not liavo lasted a week in a well-conducted office.; The case is proceeding.

ATTEMPTED CHILD MURDER A MOTHER CHARGED CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Charges of the attempted murder of her two-menths’-oid daughter by cutting her throat witlj a razor and attempted suicide were preferred against a young married woman, Bertha Nathlie Pike in the Supreme Court this morning before his Honour Mr Justice Johnston. The facts were admitted by the defence. After medical evidence bad been heard that the woman was previously an inmate of the Sunnysido Mental Hospital and was insane at the time of the offences, the jury without leaving the box returned a verdict of not guilty on the grounds of insanity; and "the woman was ordered to 'be detained at Suanyside mental hospital until the wish of the Minister was known. Tlie Crown said the woman’s explanation was that the baby had been, laughing and srving and she thought it would be happier dead.