AUCKLAND SUPREME COURT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1424, 15 June 1899, Page 46

AUCKLAND SUPREME COURT.

AUCKLAND, Friday. At the Supreme Court an Austrian gumdigger named George Salle was charged that on May 16 last, at Poroti, near Whangarei, he did break and enter the dwelling of one Curaeh Marko and steal one post, office savings bank-book, and secondly that on the same date he did have in his possession at Whangarei the same book, well knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained. The prisoner pleaded not guilty. He was further charged with having on May 16, at Whangarei. obtained a cheque for £l9 os from Donald McKay by false pretences; with having forged a document purporting to be an authority for tlve payment of the money; with having forged a document purporting to be a request for tho payment of money; and with having used as if it were genuine the lastmentioned document. The prisoner pleaded guilty. His Honor characterised the case as a very bad one. Prisoner not only committed a robbery and forged certain signatures to carry it out, but through his counsel had charged innocent persons with a worse crime. His Honor was happy to think that prisoner was an exception among the Austrians. A great many of them had been in the Auckland district for a number of years, and he thought the present was only the second, and lie was not; sure that it was net the first, instance that any of them had been brought before him. Had it not been, for his previous good character his Honor would have given prisoner a much heavier sentence. The prisoner was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent.

Four boys were convicted of the theft of boots. His Honor said it was a sad thing to seo four lads like the prisoners committing a crime. Ihere could be no excuse for them, and he was afraid two of them were harden*! offenders. Moisley had been three times in prison for theft, receiving and vagrancy. Johnson had been four times in prison for theft. However, on account of their youth, he would pass a light sentence. Moisley and Johnson would be sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour; Matthews would be admitted to probation for twelve months; and Vbncent would be sentenced to sixteen days’ imprisonment on each charge he was convicted of, and afterwards to be admitted to probation for twelve months.