CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12831, 27 November 1903, Page 8

CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

~" ». ' —— : (Fen Uhited PKEsa Assooutkw.) ; '•' , WELLINGTON, November 26. At the Supreme Court to-day George Donovan Stewart was sentenced to six rhbhths' imprisonment for theft,from tho John Clark, said to have deserted :, from the' Highland Light Infantry during the' : visit ot the Imperial troops three years ago, was convicted of shooting Alexander .'Hogg "during an affray with a woman in : Wellington on July 85, causing bodily harm. •■'He-'was,'remanded' for sentence. Edwin Gray.'ilias William' Harris, was convicted .'on the-first of 1 a series ot indictments, for burglary -and robbery at .three houses in ■ Wellington during August. Sentence was deferred. . . * NELSON, November 26. At the Supreme Court this morning Henry 'James Howard, convicted of assaulting a man named Coughlan with art axe and breaking his arm, was sentenced to a month's imprisonment in Nelson police gaol. No sentence was inflicted on the plea of "Guilty" of escaping from cnitody after arrest. -Henry James,,an old offender, for/in'erly of the Eighth 'Contingent, was sen'teheed to a year's imprisonment with hard labour in Wellington Gaol for stealing money from the' Telegraph Hotel- at Takaka., Henry Brewer'.'pleaded "Guilty" to stealing Woz of gold from his employers—the Parapara Hydrauiio Sluicing Company—at Collingjrobd. ■ He was granted probation for 12 , inohths on payment of costs. " FIRES. & .—- (Per Ukitep Press Association.) ' NELSON, November 26. There was another destructive 'fire this ■.morning, when the-Custom House Hotel : andl Union Company's incw offices at Pore * ;were destroyed. The post office and other 'buildings had a narrow escape. Only five . persons were, sleeping in the hotel wheu the fire originated—viz., Prank Dakm (the . landlord), his wife and infant, a' boy, and a. boarder ' named Bridle. Dakin was ■'awakened by- the smoke, and aroused the . household. All had to jump from the up- ' stairs "window, and escaped in their nightclothes, tho infant being thrown to the . Ijoy. - TJafcin' was much cut and bruised, and • Mrs Dakin considerably shaken from her jump. The bdy. was elightly bruised, but the;, infant and boarder were unhurt. Dakin saved nothing, and lost £80 m ;cash: Bridle saved 'his effects, except a bicycle., 'Akerstcin's store, _ had a '■■ narrow escape, and for a time was in con■siderable .danger. Akorstein, who is an old man and bedriddon, was removed with considerable difficulty. , . 'A kerosene store in the vicinity was sayed after -the continued efforts of the ' brigade in fighting off the flames, '.insurances:—Levin and Co.: Stock (par- .. tiallv destroyed), £500 (Northern); building, £350; furniture (completely destroyed), £50C '•{Victoria). Custom House Hotel: Building, £2000; furniture, £300; stock, £80 (»tanAUCKLAND, November 26. '■■■'Ik .house belonging, to Mr Gribble was mimed at Huntly,'nothing befng saved. The loss is between £300 and £350. rho house was insured for £200 in tho Standard office, ''Shortly before 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon a fire broke out in the malt kiln of - Strachan and Co.'a brewery in Pitt street. Tho outbreak originated through the overheating of some malting grain, and the fire spread rapidly, but the Fire Brigade, which . arrived very promptly, very soon had a plentiful supply of water playing on the flames; and as a. result 4he fire was con- ,' fined to the kiln, which was completely gutted. In addition to the damage to the : -h'uildjng, some malt and grain were destroyed. The building and contents -are insured in the Manchester for £5200 (partly reinsured), and the Standard have a policy for : £6300 (also partly reinsured), ihe damage is not expected to reach more than .about£2oo. ..-