CRIMINAL TRIALS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8679, 12 March 1914, Page 8

CRIMINAL TRIALS

Press Association. ONLY ONE CASE. BLENHEIM, March 11. In opening the Supreme Court sessions the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) congratulated the district on the practical absence of crime. Thd only case was one of breaking and entering and causing grievous bodily harm, the men concerned (labourers) coming to the district from outside Marlborough. The accused—William Gibson, Hugh Richard Plimmester (alias Richard Kelly), John . Campbell Smith, and John Campbell—were found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and were each sentenced to four years’ reformative treatment. NAPIER SESSIONS. NAPIER, March 11. At the Supreme' Court Hoani Heta Hakiwai, on a charge of stealing a motor cycle was released on one year’s probation. Hare Patihara on a charge of forgery was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour, and three years’ reformative treatment. Taimona Karetu, for theft of motor cycles, .was admitted to two years’ probation. James Mills, for assaulting his wife, was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Lyle Stanley, for theft, was sentenced to twelve months’ : imprisonment . with hard labour and a period of reformative treatment. James Channing was admitted on a charge of arson. The whole of the afternoon was occupied in hearing two charges against a lad named Vernon. Hodgson, eighteen years, of indecently assaulting two boys. The case was unfinished when the court rose for the day. A SERIOUS CHARGE. WANGANUI, March XI. A young man named Austin Bruen was committed for trial this morning on a charge of attempting to carnally know a girl fourteen and a half years of age. INVERCARGILL, March 11. In the Supreme Court, before Mr Justice Sim, W. Lyons, twenty-three years of age, who had pleaded guilty to breaking and entering, was sentenced to reformative treatment for three yean.