SUPREME COURT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7048, 9 February 1910, Page 6

SUPREME COURT

TUESDAY, FBBEUAET 3. CRIMINAL SESSIONS. (Before his Honor Mr Justice Chapman.) The sixth day of the first quarterly criminal session of the Supreme Court was entered upon. One case, that against J. H. Ireson, was completed, and the last case on the calendar—that of E. F. Renner —was partly heard. Mr M. Myers prosecuted on behalf of the Crown. A CASE FROM GRE Y TOWN. John Henry Ireson, a young man, was charged with breaking and entering by day tho dwelling of Thomas Shaw, at Greytown, on January Ist, and stealing therefrom £1 4s in money. Ho was defended by Mr H. F. O’Leary. Mrs Clara Shaw stated that she had left the house on January Ist during the afternoon, one of the windows being slightly open. When she came back it was not quite so much open, and there were signs that someone had entered. Money had been taken from a purse in tire front bedroom. The prisoner knew tho house well, having been through it several times. On her way out the witness had passed Ireson's place, and could have been seen.

In answer to Mr O’Leary, the witness said that tho Tauhorinikau racos wore being held that day, and many persons were passing her place all clayv Thomas Shaw, husband of the previous witness, said that ho had been working in a neighbouring garden on January Ist, and saw Ireson about the back poroh. He knocked and waited awhilo.

Zak. NEW GOVERNMENT HOUSE, NOW IN COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION AT MOUNT VIEW,

Th© -witness's .•him, and he was not in sight the next (time Shaw looted up. At the time the witness had no fear of his house being entered, and did not bother to go over. ( Clarence Wenden and Constable Larikin also gave evidence. ■■ The defence strove to set up an alibi, evidence being given by Edward Ireson, Fanny Hastings, and Ellen Stockdale. The contention was that the accused had been at his brother's house photographling some children. The jury retired at 1.15 p.xr. On their return, four hours later, the foreman intimated that thero was no hope 'of their deciding.upon a verdict. A new trial was ordered for the next sittings of the court. Bail was allowed. ALLEGED ARSON. Eberhardt Ferdinand Renner was charged with having set fir© to an unoccupied house, his own property, at Wodestown, on December 28th, thereby committing arson. * Mr C. P. Skerrett, K.C., with him Mr W. J. Craoroft Wilson, appeared on behalf of the accused. Mrs Sarah Watt, who lived next door to Renner's house at Wadestown, said that a family named Fraser had left the house on December 27th, Next day she saw a quantity of rubbish in the yard, including an old upholstered chair. .In the evening she was attracted by a bright light in the next yard, and saw the accrued dragging the chair towards the house, the back of the qhair being ablaze. She asked, him what ho was doing, but got no reply. A few minutes later he came to the dividing fence and said that the house was on fire. As a consequence she gave the alarm. William Burns said that he went (through the house on the afternoon of (December 28th and found it perfectly clean. He had been negotiating for the purchase of the house, but could not put down the .£540 the accused asked [for it. In the evening he was attracted to the house, and found" a blaze in the (front windows. With the accused o brother he forced his way into the house. The fire seemed to have started at one end of the hall, where they found some flax, like that used for stuffing a chair. The accused was found tying on his back near the scullery as if in a fit. They carried him to the front of the house, and he struggled violently, having to be held down while the fire wa,<i extinguished. The accused had paid -6180 for the land, and the house was insured for £350 in the Commercial Union. Other evidence was given by Simon Fraser, Mrs Fraser, and Robert: James Watt. The case for the Crown was not concluded when the adjournment was taken at 5 p.m., The court adjourned until 10 a.m. next day. The accused was allowed bail as formerly. SITTINGS ELSEWHERE. GRAND JURY RECOMMENDS THE LASH. PBESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, February 8. In the Supreme Court to-day the Grand Jury recommended that in view' of the frequency of assaults on girls of tender years the lash should bo used with some degree of severity, and in cases where flogging was inadvisable owing to old age, the jury recommended life imprisonment. Clarence Russell and George Arthur King, alias Georg© Arthur Gale*?, were charged with stealing at Aratapu a pockotbook, cheque and £l4 in money. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, alnd thev were remanded for sentence. Henry Sinclair©, found guilty of stealing a portmanteau containing clothing, was sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment.

SOUTHERN SENTENCES.

CHRISTCHURCH, February 8. At the Supreme Court Joseph Williams, who was' convicted j-estcrday of assault with intent, was sentenced to nine months’ hard labour. Thomas Teitch, convicted of theft, was sentenced to years’ imprisonment. Charles 'Burney was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for forgery and to six mouths’ imprisonment for having escaped from custody.