CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13587, 8 May 1906, Page 5

CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

(Per United Press Association,) i GISBORNE, May 7. Tho . Supretne Court half-yearly sittings ;opened this, morning before Mr Justice Ohapman. The. criminal calendar comprises 17 c-harges-i.agninst 16 persons. None of them is of a very serious . character. Victor Anderson was admitted to probation on a charge of forgery, his Honor saying he 'believed prisoner's action was the result of thoughtlessness. James Rhodes was sentenced to six months for committing perjury in -.he Police Court. Tekare Akap'u -was found guilty of aseault o5 a Maori girl at Tearoa and sentence deferred. True bills were found in several charges under the Bankruptcy Act. WELLINGTON, May 7. Tho Supreme Court criminal sessions opened this morning. Arthur J. Thomas and J. Home, for breaking and entering and theft at Palmeraton North, \rero sentenced respectively to two years and six months. The Chief Justice commented on the fact that there wore threo charges of murder or attempted murder on the list. James Dovonport, who bad pleaded "Guilty" to breaking and entering at Falmerston North, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment. George Lee, alias Jones, alias Wilson, alias Baxter, and George Robertson, alias William Ireland, were found guilty of breaking and entering and theft respectively and remanded for sentence. Frank Reeve was acquitted of a charge of horse-stealing. The Grand Jury threw out the charge of indecency preferred against James Harrell. In tho case of Thcs. Goodgor, tho charge of murder was reduced to one of manslaughter. CHRISTCHTIROE. May 7. The Suprome -Court sittings opened today. Mr Justice Donnut-on, charging tho Grand Jury, said that flic calendar comprised the nsi'a-1 class of cafes, of which there were not a very large number, anil none specially serious. Some, howover, were of an unpleasant class, of which there were, unfortunately, so many. It was not likely that any special difficulties would he presented to the Grand Jury. Thomas Henry Mansloy, on two charges of theft, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Lillian MacMiihon, one charge of theft, was admitted to 12 months' probation. Edward Home, on throe charges of burglary, got 18 months. Tho last-named accused is only 21 years of ago, and an old Burnham Industrial School bov. Tho Judge raid that evidently he bad chosen a criminal life, and if be appeared again after tho present sentence lie would receive a very kmg term of imprisonment. Owen f Biosnahan, on charges of breaking and entering and theft (also a Burnham'bov, who originally came from tho Caveisbam Schooll. was also sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment, and warned by the judge as m the iirevious case. True bills wore found in all rases except those against J.'rant William Senate, indecent assault (two charges) and John Graphic, theft. Joseph Brown was sentenced ' to six months' imprisonment on a (Jiarge of stabbing Walter Rae on May 3. William James, who pleaded "Guilty" to breaking and entering a dwelling house by ni"ht was sent to gaol for two years. 'Stephen' Sargent, received throe months for theft trom the person of a purse containing £7 life. Matthew Finlav Paterson, charged hat on December 6, at the general election, in Electoral District of Ashliurton, Having voted once, he did anplv again for a voting paper in his own name. Accused affirmed that he was drunk at Ashlnirton and did not vote, hut voted later at Tin-wa-ldEvidence for the Crown was to the eject that accused had voted at both places Ino inrv returned a verdict, of guilty, with *"■» addition that they did not think accused acted with criminal- intent. Hi, Honor siid he cou.d not accept that verdict. Tf tnere way. no criminal intent accused cou'd not hj, found guilty. The jury then re"mod a verdict of guiltv with a stron" commendation .to mercy. Accused was sentenced fo ono mon{h ,,. ; mprisonment ino sittings resume to-morrow morning.