SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13857, 21 March 1907, Page 8

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

(Fr.p. United Press AssoctiTiox.) NEW PLYMOUTH, March, 19. At the Supreme Court to-day William Alfred Hallmond, a lad 16 years of age, was found guilty on a charge of Ihe theft of a horse, and wa» admitted to probation for 12 months.

The court has been engaged all day in .hearing'a case against Fred Fontenalla, an hotel porter, who is charged with tho theft of £40 from an hotel at Eltl|am. Tho jury retired at 9.30 p.m., and at. 11.30 announced that, there was no clianco of agreement. The jury was looked up till 1.30 a.m.

March 20. The jury alter being locked up for 12 hours failed to agree, and was discharged. A new trial has been fixed lor next session. David James, charged with indcccnt assault on little girls, and with attempting to carnally know, was found "Not guilty." Henry Walters camo up for sentence on a charge of indecent exposure, and was lined £10, and ordered to lind sureties, himself in £100 and two sureties of £50, to bo of good behaviour for two years, in default one year's imprisonment NAPIEII. March 19. • At the Supreme Court Robert Landale Miivuc pleaded guilty to attempted arson at Dannevirke. Prisoner's counsel sought to show that Maync was ccccntrie, and furnished evidence of gocd character. Ilis Honor said eccentricity did not show in sanity, and the fact fliat the prisoner was caught disguised and armed had not been satisfactorily explained. A sentence of six months' imprisonment- was imposed. Stella Marsdcn ami Henry I'ate, who both pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from the person, wore sentenced to six and three months' imprisonment respectively. A verdict of " Not guilty" was returned in the eases of Mary Ami Yocasivich, charged with concealment of birth, and Thomas Todd, carnally knowing. Michael Barry, who had pleaded guilty oil tile previous day to a charge of theft, was admitted to probation for two years. March 20. A Native named Paraione was scntenccd to 12 months' imprisonment for carnally knowing a Maori girl under the. ago of 16 years. A verdict of " Not guilty" was relurned in tho case against John Michael Smith, charged with indecent assault- en a. female of the a.ge of tivo years. A Maori name Manrn Kurukuru pleaded ''Guilty" to a charge of forgery, arid was admitted 10 probation for three years.

KELSON, March 19. The Supreme Court sessions opened this morning. 'when Mr Justice Dcnniston again congratulated) Ihe district on the comparative absence of crime. There were two cases ohly, and tvue bills were found in both.

John William Hawkes was convicted of | indecent assault- on a girl under eight. He, was recommended to mercy, and admitted to probation for 12 months, on the ground thai for 36 years he had: been a blameless resident. Mr Justice Dcnniston said that oti'onccs against women and children must bo closely watched and severely dealt with. Much might bo 'said in favour of the accused, and the offence had been only slight, and was without actual dignity, but' the accuscd had not told the truth, and in such circumstances probation should not always be granted. He took into consideration the extreme'age of the accused, and ilie fact that the oltcr.cc was nothing more than an act of impropriety, and so he granted probation, but only in exceptional cases would this be done. This point his Honor desired to make as public as possible. March 20. William Ileltany, jun., was found guilty of appropriating to his own use the stun ot £270 belonging to the estato of Win. Wilkie (deceased), and was senteneed to two years' imprisonment. The criminal business is concluded, but the civil business will be taken to-morrow.