DISTRICT COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 425, 7 September 1877, Page 3

DISTRICT COURT.

THIS DAY. (Before His Honor Judse Harvey.) His Honor took his seat upon the Bench at 3 o'clock. FAISB PRETENCES. William Clark Earl, alias Win. Clark, was indicted with having on the 13ih of December, 1875, obtained the sum of L 5 from "William Jaruieson by means of a Talueless cheque. The prisoner pleaded Not guilty. The following gentlemen were empannellfcd a 8 a jray:—Frank Dnnlop (foreman), Jas. Wansbrough, Thos. Falconer, Jas. Paterson, Edward Menlove, Herbert Honour, Thos. Barrett, William Esther, "William Falconer, Thomas White, George Lockwood, and Patrick Croft. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr. White (of Timaru), prosecuted. The prisoner was undefended. The Crown Prosecutor, having briefly opened the case, called the prosecutor, William Jamieson, who deposed that he had had. dealings with the prisoner about two years ago, and that on the 13th December, 1875, he applied to him for the balance of the account due, and prisoner gave him a cheque for LSO. He was induced to accept the cheque by prisoner telling him that some land belonging to him had been sold, and the money placed to his credit in the Bank of New Zealand at Christchurch.

The prisoner cross-examined witness at some length, but without eliciting anything of importance. John Locke, formerly manager of the National Bank, Oamarn, gave evidence as- to the cheque being dishonoured.

Winslow Woodward deposed that he, in December, 1875, was teller in the Bank of New Zealand, Christchurch, and that there was then no account in the Bank in the name of "W. C. Earl." This was the case for the prosecution. The Crown Prosecutor did not address the jury. The prisoner, in his defence, made a short but rambling statement, having little or no reference to the matter.

His Honor Laving briefly summed up, The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of Guilty. His Honor asked how it was that such a long time had been allowed to elapse before the initiation of the prosecution. The Crown Prosecutor replied that the prisoner had been undergoing a sentence in the Gaol at Lyttelton of 18 months for false pretences, and had only been arrested on being liberated. There was a second indictment against the same prisoner for having obtained the sum of L2O from William Jamieson under false pretences. Mr. White said he would not offer any evidence in this case. Sentence in the previoxis case was deferred until to-morrow morning.