CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12957, 26 April 1904, Page 7

CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

(Per U.xited Press Association.) GISBORNE, April 25. The criminal sessions opened this morn* ing before Mr Justice Edwards. There aro seven charges against 15 prisoner, the cases including four of theft, ono of forgery, ono of unnatural offence, and one of manslaughter (alleged tohungaism). In his address to the Griiid ■ Jury, his Honor briefly roferred to the caso of tohungaism, in which, ho said, tho jury needed no direction on points of law. If tho jury believed that death was caused hy tho practices of accused, then it would bo their duly to return a truo bill, although accused may have acted in ignoranoo and without intention to do any harm. Tho court was occupied all day with a caso of great interest to settlers. Four highly respected young men—George Comer. John Nicholson Shaw, Thomas Fell, and Ralph Beaufoj—wore charged with oattlestoaling at Motu on September 14-. Tho ovidonco for tho prosecution was to tho effect that accused shot a beast, which they alloged they supposed to ba wild, but which was really tho property of tho informant, also a ITofcn settler. The caso was not ooncludod when tho court adjourned. In tho course of tho trial his Honor intimated that it amounted to larceny to shoot a calf running with an ear-marked cow apparently wild, which one of the witnesses admitted he had done, and thought he had a right to do. "I suppose you know you Were guilty of larceny?" said his Honor, Witness:."No." His Honor: "But you were." Witness: "We killed them on our ' own place." His Honor: ".It doesn't matter where you kiiled it; you killed a calf belonging to somebody else's cow. and you aro guilty. I dbn't propose to discuss tho matter with you, but you had better bo careful in your dealings. For tho information of your neighbours, if they are so ignorant, I may say. the law won't let you cay, "I thought so. 1 ' Although the judge might tako that into consideration, it ia better for tho public to understand this if they are so lamontablv ignorant. WELLINGTON, April 25. Tho criminal sessions opened this morning before Mr Justice Williams. In his charge to the Grand Jury, his Honor said ihey would- have no difficult}' in coining to a conclusion on tlio cases. The list comprised charges against 12 persons. Hie charge against Neil Joseph Harrington, of attempted rape, is proceeding. No bills wcro found by the Grand Jury in tho easea of Thomas Cox (for an alleged unuatural offence) and Jarnes M'Gregor (for allegf*! theft). Neil Joseph Harrington, charged on four counts with indecent assault and com- » moil assault, WOT, found "Not guilty," Rupert Watt, aged 16Jr years, who pleaded "Guilty" iu the Wangunui Magistrate's■ Court to a eliarge of breaking and entering, was admitted to probation for 12 months. Louis Fransen was sentenced to 18 months' hard labour for theft. Arlliur Grogan, who pleaded "Guilty" in tho lower court to a charge of theft, and who is at present serving a term for horse-stealing, v. 1 a 3' sentenced to 12 months' hard labour, to begin at tho ■ expiration of tho present sentence. Joseph Paulson, for stealing 19s from the person, was sentenced to 12 months' hard labour. Two Syrians, named Peter and Hanna. Stephens, brothers, pleaded " Guilty" to tho charge of conspiracy to defraud Malcolm . and Co. (Christchurch) and others, being creditors of Pelor Stephens. Mr Gray, for tlio prisoners, pointed out that Peter Stephens was a foreigner, and posihly did not coneoivc tlio offence to bo as serious' as it was, while his brother, Hanna Stephens, had acted entirely under Peter's influence, and was a man who had hitherto bomo a good character. Bankrupt's sleek had toon purchased from the trustee to whom it was asigncd for £450, of which Hanna Stephons had found some £250, and he would now he at tho loss of that. Tiio proceedings -hatl been instituted by the Official Assignee to recover from accused some of tho money which tho creditors had lost, and Hanna, Stephens had, with tho assistance of friends, found a sum of money and paid it to tho official assignee. Peter Stephens was tried beforo tho Chief Justice iu February last for ofl'eneos under the Bankruptcy Act and sentenced to a term of imprisonment, t which lie was at present undergoing. At tho time tho Chief Justice practically sontonced prisoner on the present charge, as' ho pointed out in passing sentence that ono of Ills reasons for imposing the sentence was that tho creditors had suffered a loss of between £400 and £500. Tho bankrupt stock was now about to bo sold, and tho loss to the creditors would not be very large. 'Peter Stephens had some two months and a-half of the present sentence yet to Eerve. His Honor said the Chief Justico had informed him that ho understood in passing the previous sentence on Peter Stephens that it roally covered tiio present charge, accordingly ho would pass the nominal sentence of two months' imprisonment, to bo ooncurront with tho present term. Hannr. Stephens would be remanded until tomorrow for the probation officer's report. CHRISTCHURCH, April 25. In the Supreme Court to-day tho following prisoners who' had pleaded_ guilty in tho lower court were dealt with:—John O'Connel, false registration of birth, was lined £10; F. E. Eubory, forgery, adjourned till May 9 for prisoner to bring evidenco disproving the report of the probation officer.