SUPREME COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13859, 23 March 1907, Page 15

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SITTING. Friday, Mahch 22.. (Before his Honor Mr Justice Williams.) . FORGERY. . .. Tlioraas Coughlan, alias Cogtilaii, nlina John M'Carthy, was brought up for sentcnco.on a charge of forgery by sending a false telegram. Prisoner, vfto gavo Ilia fi£o an -15 years, MiitV that in .sending, tho telegram ho had only font for Iho fare from. Middleinarch to Dunedin, and that ho had intended to return llio money to Mr Maurice Coughluu. Tho Crown Prosecutor (Mr J. K. M. Frascr) said the character of prisoner, was reported lo.bo bad. 110 read a list of previous convictions, J4 in number, which showed -that prisoner had been scntonced in different parts of;, New' Zealand for theft, drnnltoniioss, viigrancy, oscaping from gaol, breaking and entering, and obsceno language. His Honor: Tho offcnco to which you have pleaded guilty is not serious, but I am bound to 'tako' into consideration the past record. Tho sentcnco of the court is that you be imprisoned for 12 months, with hard labour. ! RURGLAHY AHD TTIIEFT. Thomas George 'William, Gould, 23 years of age, 'was brought before tho court for sentence on a cliargc of burglary and theft. Mt ( Alexander S. Adams said lie whs instructed by tho relatives to appear for prisoner to placo certain information before the ! court before sentence was passed. Prisonor had been in troublo before, mid'tho explanation lie was instructed to givo.was that some years prisoner had met with ii serious injury to his spine. He had been laid up fc>r a number of month"! in the If.os■pital in plnsler of Paris and so forth, and the result' bad been 'permanent physical injury, so that ho v/iw unfit for hard work, and thero had been more or ls.w injury to the brain. He wiis not prepared to givo medical testimony that there was absolutely any affection of tho brain, though at times it had manifested itsolf. The young man hod' occasionally given way to drink, ami that hod been tho caso each time lie had committed a crime. Thore had been 110 attompt to conceal anything by prisoner, who HVas a barber's assistant, but had been in business lately for himself in a small shop started fur him by his mother. .■

The Crown Prosecutor said prisoner's character was reported as had. There we'ro two convictions against him—allied oUcnccs. At Wanganui, on tho Bth December, l!M):i, lie had been convictcd of (also pretences Mid released on probation for 12 months, and lit Wellington ho hud received .sentences of six mouths- and three months "for theft on tho 19th July, 190-1. ' His Honor: Tho sentence of, the court is that ymi be imprisoned for 12 months, with hard labour. . .. • , I ■ , THEFT! FROM A'BWELUNG. i Jessio Elizabeth Bliasard,-19 years of j oge, appeared for • ijciitcuCo on. a charge of theft from a dwelling'.' -~', •' The Crown Proseoutor said the girl was ,a domestic servant. Her father was reputed, to bo a respbetab'o man, in somewhat poor' 'circumstances, and li'cr'general character, so , far a3 the police know, was good. Sho had gone., to this house and stolen tho money.' ■and taken away'tho broocli, which hud'been' , returned. The father had'olfwod in' refund tho 15s, but, tho person, knowing his position, ..had refused to accept it. L'earnod counsel , suggested that the girl be required tq como up for ''sentence when ' called on rather than bo placed on probation. Jiis Honor said Uioro was no objection to that. Accused -would enter into a- rccogiii,saiicq of'£lo. .to como up for Bcitlonce when called upon. " I am,'.' shid his Honor, " not going to pass sentonco now, and if you bchav.o yourself you will not bo called upon, ,'aiitl 110 sentence will bo passed, and I, hopo thi's will be a warning to you to keep your hands from picking and stealing in'future." . IN CHAMBEBS. (Boforo his Honor Mr Justice Williams.) Probato-was granted in the- ostatos of tho following deceased 'persons:—Jane Stark (Mr Vf: Sinclair), David Bateson. (Mr E. C. 'Smith, Androw Fairbairn (Mr 'Macalisterl letters of administration wero granted in the estates of Grace Campbell MacOregor, deceased (Mr A. Sinclair), and Georgo Henry 8011, deceased (Mr Hunter). ■ftij Elisc Thomson, deceased (ifr Platts). — Jlotlon for remuneration of executors).— Kofcrred to registrar for report. . Ro Irving Jackson Steel, deceased (Mr ',Ulviloy).—Motion for directions for service of originating summons.—To be Eervcd oil 1 parties' to the agreement. , Connors v. the Corporation of Dunedin (Mr Stephens).—Motion to fix date of trial.— I'ised 'for MSy 15.