CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9026, 12 April 1888, Page 6

CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION".] Christchcrch, Wednesday. At the Supreme Court this morning Martha Dalziel was charged with the murder of her son, four years old, on the 9th December, at Waikaia. The evidence showed that she had tied the child to her, walked into the river, and sat down in the water. Three children saw her, and gave the alarm. When found she was insensible, and the child was dead. They were lying about fifty yards from the stream, as if she had crawled out. She was addicted to drink, and had been in a lunatic asylum. The jury returned a verdict of " Not guilty," on grounds of insanity. Alexander Dunbar pleaded guilty to a charge of offering to receive money as an inducement to abstain from bidding for certain Crown lands put up to auction, but stated he was not aware he was breaking the law. A fine of £20 was inflicted. Peter Simeon, a Maori, charged with indecent assault, was acquitted this morning.

Wellington", Wednesday, At the Supreme Court Charles Hamilton, ■who pleaded guilty to forgery, was sentenced to three years; John Astly, alias Car ling, convicted of larceny, to two years ; and George Patterson, robbery with violence at Masterton, to three years. The Court was occupied most of the day in hearing the charge of arson against Reuben Hind, The circumstances of three outbreaks of fire which occurred on the morning of the 4th February at Beck's Mill, Taranaki Place; Mrs. Fennel's premises, old Customhouse-sitreet; and Lepper Bros.' workshop, Mills-street, will be remembered, as well as the sensation which was caused by the arrest of Reuben Hind and John Collins on the charge of having fired the three premises. At 8.45 p.m. the jury, after 55 minutes' consideration returned a verdict of guilty. Sentence was deferred until to-morrow.