SUPREME COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16980, 17 April 1917, Page 9

SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL SITTINGS. Mo.N'DAi". AI'HIL 16. ' (Before his Honor Mr Justice Sim.) VOUGEKY. Thomas -James Campbell was called on. for sentence on two charges of forgery. Mr E. J. Smith, who appeared for tho accused, said tho man served in the South African war in 1901. On tho outbreak of the present war ho again enlisted, but was rejected in camp for lung trouble. Later lie was rejected for varicose veins. Ho then went away as assistant butcher on a transport, and while serving in that capacity contracted cerebral meningitis, and was invalided back to Port Chalmers. To some extent tho man had endeavoured to do his duty to tho country under the present circumstances. His trouble right through had [wen drink. Six years ago he fell from a horse, sustaining an injury which required tho removal of a bone in the right ear, and the result had been that whenever ho took drink it seemed to go to his brain, and to put him in a position almost bordering on madness. The present charges were committed while he was under the inlluence of drink, and accused said he commenced a bout of drinking because ho wus rejected and could not getaway with his companions. Tho accused was willing to make restitution. Ho was interested in a farm near Ashburton. Ho was married, with a wife and a child five years of ago. This was tho first offence, for which ho had been committed. Testimonials from a minister and a book publisher as to accused's character wcro laid before tho court.

Mr D. Ramsay, for tho Crown, said tho accused was born in Canterbury 37 years ago. His mother had a farm at Ashburton Forks. She had not seen tho accused for the past seven years, and in that time had only heard from him once, when he sent a post-card _bo her from Egypt in 1915. Ho was married seven years ago, and two years afterwards he deserted his wife, and since then had not contributed any money to her. The wife was a hardworking woman, and had had to maintain herself and tho chikh The polico described the man as a plausible criminal, in whoso favour nothing could bo said. x\t present ho was awaiting trial on' charges of forgery at different places. His Honor said the offenco was mean and contemptible, and deserved substantial punishment. Accused would bo sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, with/'./hard labour, for_ each offence, the sentences to bo cumulative. •'■••■ IN BANCO. In ro Mary Gribben (deceased): Gribben v. Farquhar and others. —Summons under tho Family Protection Act. —Mr Finch and ' Mr Adams appeared for tho parties.—Order made by consent. i IN CHAMBERS. Probate was granted in tho following cases: —John Buchanan Strachan, John Graham Gow, John Harley, Walter ''Richmond Marsh, Percy Taylor, Thomas Taylor Bell, and John Dillon. Letters of administration were granted as under:—John Ironside, Thomas Kain (rc-grant), John Law. Mangan v. Mangan.—.Motion for directions as to service (Mr Payne).—Personal service on respondent dispensed with. In re Ernest McGregor.—Motion for order for removal of file to Supreme Court, Hamilton (Mr Calvert). —No order was made.