LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11538, 24 November 1900, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE.

SUPREME COURT.—Criminal Sitting* ■''•■ '■■;■■-• ■■ ."■'■. Fbidh^^m^^^';:^ 1 ■;■■; The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were continued this morning before Hi* Honor . Mr. Justice "Conolly. : ; ,;'- *** V; CHABGE AGAINST NATIVES, '; Four natives named' Hone Pikari, Makarini ] Tupe, Henare Puatau, and Hemi T«)mo wore indicted on the charge: that they had, on * September 17, ■ at Takakuri, *in the provincial district of Auckland, broken into ami entered the- dwellinghouso of ■> Charles Everett,' and' stolen therefrom 3501b weight of kauri gum, two flannel shirts, a pah of socks, and a sack, ■ the property of the said ' Everett. Prisoner! were also charged with : receiving the' gum and items mentioned knowing the same to have be-in dishonestly obtained. Maiarini Tupe pleaded guilty, and the three remaining prisoners, rjter some delay, not guilty. The Hon. J. A. Tele, Crown! Solicitor, conducted the case for the prosecution, and Mr. J. R. Reed ~> appeared for Pikari. Mr. George Brown, native interpreter, interpreted. Evidence for tho prosecution was given by Chas. Everett, Tua Hoterene, Ipcroamst Tomo, William Moselen, and Constable A. 6. Douthett. The storekeeper, Everett, gave evidence ai to the loss of the gum, and to subsequently feeing a large quantity of gum at Pikari's whare, a small quantity of which Ik> believed was his, but which lie could not actually identify. The two natives deposed to entering Everett's premises in company with th« prisoners, where the gum was shared out, they taking their share, together with the* others, and subsequently selling it. Constabh Douthett gave evidence- to tho effect that the prisoners, with the exception of Pikari, gave themselves up on October 6, asking that they should be punished by the law for stealing the old man's (meaning Everett) gum, and that on the Bth Pikari came to the station at Whangaroa, where witness arrested him, charging him with tho theft. Prisoner made no statement. The case for. the prosecution having concluded, Mr. Reed asked if then was any case to answer on behalf of Pikari, pointing out that there had really been no evidence to support that given by the native witnesses, who were accomplices. His Hono* said he could not dismiss a case that was before the jury, but could advise the jury, which he then proceeded to do, advising them strongly not to convict on the evidence of accomplices. The jury held that there was no case against Pikari, who was accordingly discharged, leaving the cases of Henari Puatau and Hemi Tomo for the consideration of the jury, Makarini Tupe having pleaded guilty. His Honor having summed up, the jury, after a brief deliberation, found Puatau and Tomo guilty of receiving. His Honor, addressing prisoners, then said that as neither of them had been previously convicted, he intended dealing very leniently with them. They would be admitted to probation for 12 calendar months, on the condition that they each paid a sum of £1 a month for five months into the hands of a probation officer for the prosecutor, tho £15 to go to the prosecutor as compensation for hie loss. During the remaining seven months they should pay the sum of £1 per month to meet the cost of tho prosecution. If they failed to comply with the orders, they, would be arrested and. imprisoned. The prisoners were then discharged. MAGISTRATE'S COURT. -Friday. , (Before Mr. H. W. Brabant. S.M.) Orders were made on the following judgement summonses:—William Pearson (Mr. Gittos) v. T. Acron, ordered to pay £1 4s 8d within 14 days, in default seven days' imprisonment; Robert Stow (Mr. Baxtor) v. J. Homan, ordered to nay £9 6s Bd by instalments of 8s per month; William Monaghan (Mr. Baxtor) v. Thomas Wright, ordered to pay £14 5s 4d within 14 days, in default 14 days' imprisonment; Alex. Schultze v. Joseph Otway, ordered to pay £1 3s within seven days, in default 14 days' imprisonment. \ POLICE COURT NEWS. Mr. Thos. Hutchison, S.M., presided at the Police Court yesterday. Drunkenness: Three first offenders were convicted and discharged, and Henry Anderson and William Henry Madill fined 5s each, for this offence. Breaches of By-laws: lor driving a vehicle rcund a street corner at other than a walking pace, Carlton Hill was fined 5s and costs 73, and Alfred Hodgson 10s and costs 7s. Thomas Hanna admitted leaving a carriage unattended in Karangahape Road, and was fined 5s and costs. John Rendell was fined 5s and costs 7s for obstructing the footpath in Queen-street by placing cases of goods thereon, and in the case of Daniel Driscoll, charged with beating a mat in Queen-street, to the annoyance of pedestrians, a fine of 5s and costs 7s was imposed. Theft: A lad named Charles Cyrus Wintei pleaded guilty to stealing two pigeons, oi, the value of ss, the property of William. Alireel Dale. As accused expressed his regret, and promised not 'to offend again, a conviction was recorded and ho was discharged. •_ -

Remanded: A young Maori named Iw Kau was remanded to appear at Papakun on the 30th ins on a charge of stealing a gold chain and locket, valued at £3, the property of William Grey. tS 6 ete f nceß! A middle-aged man namec Joseph Westmoreland was brought up foi sentence on a charge of which he was found guilty on Wednesday last, of having iS on F. ft Clayton and ,T. H. Harrison-b\ false representations, in ord * to obtain », 5" aner to His Worship, accused Bar" he had a wife and family in the Hawke's my ; district and had been a rtoisWthS, As this was his first offence, His Worship It corded a conviction, and ordered prisoner t0 come up for sentence when called upon