CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16620, 17 August 1917, Page 6

CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

YOUNG MAORI IMPRISONED-

THEFT FROM A STORE.

The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court were continued yesterday, the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, presiding.

A young Maori, Ngawati Slade, who was found guilty, on Wednesday, on a charge of breaking, entering, and theft from the store of H. S. Andrews and Sons, at Rawene, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, with hard labour. His Honor, who also declared prisoner a habitual criminal, remarked that accused had had every chance, but was apparently bent on pursuing his career of crime.

SEXUAL OFFENCES.

THREE ACCUSED FOUND GUILTY.

| In the case in which a Dalmatian, Joe ■ Botica, was charged with carnally knowj ing, at Kaikohe, on February 26, a girl i under 16 years of age, the jury returned | a verdict of gujjty. ; On a similar' charge, in respect to an I offence committed at Kaikohe, between ; April 2 and May 15, a youth, Paul Botica, also a Dalmatian, was found guilty. An old man, Robert Waddell Reid, v.-as found guilty on a charge of having com- ! mitted art unnatural offence at Tauranga, on June 23!: All three prisoners were remanded for sentence until Thursday next. GUILTY OF RECEIVING. RECOMMENDATION TO MERCY. John Wm. Pollard was charged with having stolen, at Auckland on June 22, a greenstone heart and £7 7s 6d in money from the dwelling of Frederick Wm. Cossett. An alternative count of receiving was also preferred. The Hon. J. A. Tole, Crown Prosecutor, said the greenstone heart and the money were taken when accused, who was a soldier on final leave, was visiting the house. Subsequently it was discovered that acj cused pawned the jewellery, giving a I fictitious name and address.

After 3 10 minutes' retirement the jury returned a verdict of guilty on the charge of receiving, but recommended accused to mercy on the ground thai, he was about to co to the front.

Sentence was deferred until Thursday.