SUPREME COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13845, 7 March 1907, Page 8

SUPREME COURT.

CRI.MINAI", SITTINGS. (Pee Ukited Press Association'.) I'AI.MERSTOX N., Man-li 5. At Ihe .Supreme Court .Michael Alexander, 70 .years of aj;o, who was convicted nf indecent assault, upon his stepdaughter, 12, was sentenced lo live years' imprisoiimenl. Application was inado for the separate trial of John Jloujtlian and Susan Colo, eliarijwl willi nhortion, on tho grouiwls that thu cvidonco fo ho adduced by Iho Crown would prejudicially atleel. the respective defences of accuscd. The application -was refused, and tlio case is now proceeding. In deciding against the application, .Inslicc Chapman said tho caso was ncc&ssariiy 0110 of conspiracy or sometiling analogous to it. The assumption must be that the woman actcd upon tho procurement of tiio Juan, and was cooperating if tho offenco wore made out against both accusctl, bccause thoy wcro co-operating in tho commission of this crime. Ilis Honor added iliat ho had sufficient conndenco in tho good sense and judgment of pi-csontrday juries to hope that tlio present one would bo able to act upon that portion of Iho evidence affecting each of the accused. John Moughan and Susan Cole wcro acqoit-ted, 011 the. ground that there was no dircct evidence to attach them to Ihe crime. I Thomas ,lohn Lesby, aged 33 years, was charged with having," 011 February 18, carnally known Hose Lesby, his eight-year-old daughter at Pongaroa, also -with indecent assault. Ilis Honor forbade Ihe publication of the evidence owing to its disgusting nature. Tho jury, after threequarters of au hour's retirement, returned a verdict, of " Guiltv" on both charges. INVERCAIiGILL, March 5. The Supremo Court sittings were opened to-day by his Honor Mr Justice Williams, who congratulated the (iraml Jury 011 iho fact tliafc_ there were only two criminal eases, .neither heing of a serious nature. His Honor conimcnloil favourably on the fact that, there was so little crime in such a largo district. Richard Llovd was charged with unlawfully shooting" a cow, ami .John Kcalin;; and Patrick Finn were charged with assaulting and robbing John Devanney. All the accuscd wcro found "Not guilty.' 1 .In the former case his Honor expressed regret thai (.lie jury had been occupied so iong 011 so trivial a matter.