SUPREME COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17320, 21 May 1918, Page 7

SUPREME COURT

Monday, Mat 20. (Bofore his Honor Mr Justice Sim.) CRIMINAL SITTING. musonkbs fob sentence. Foot prisoners who had pleaded guilty in the lower court to offences camo up ior sentence. Mr W. Cf HacGregor, iv.C., appeared for the Crown. Clarence Herbert Grocott had pleaded guilty at Oamarn to a charge of forgery.- - Mr H anion said the prisoner was 18 years of age last November. For 2£ years he . had been working in tlie Postal and Tele- ' graph Department. Tho annual reports of the department as to his character were excellent. lie forged a document in order to coyer up a fault in connection with a registered letter, and when challenged by the police he denied the matter, but afterwards admitted it to the detective. Hia parents were highly respected people. Tho father had paid the £2 contained in the letter. —Mr MacGregor said that some time ago another letter with which tho accused had been entrusted disappeared. In tho present case the accused liad not been frank with the police, and it was not known "what had become of tho money the letter contained. —Hi 6 Honor remanded accused for sentence until Wednesday, pending a report on the aocused's character from the probation officer at Oamaru. The charge against Win. Armour Michie Kitt was that of breaking and entering and theft.—Mr Hanlou ssid the accused was I! 3 years of age. He suffered from infantile paralysis early in life, and was still a little ; lame. He came from a good home. Ijo voluntarily confessed his fault to the lady from whom he had stolen.—His Honor released the accused on probation for a term of three years. He must be of good behaviour and pay the costs of the prosecution (£2 8s) within a week. Patrick Joseph Oliver, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of forgery, was undefended by counsel, and had nothing to say. —His Honor perused the police report.— Mr MacGregor said that the young fellow ■was convicted of an offence when 12 years of age. —His Honor: Technically, he is not a first offender; still it would be a pity to send* him to_ gaoL—Mr MacGregor suggested that if the prisoner wero allowed probation he bo required to return the £7 to the Chinaman.—After hearing the probation officer (Mr F. G. Gumming), nis Honor ordered the prisoner to come up for sentence at any time within the next three years, if called upon. He must ba of good behaviour, repay the Chinaman the money, and pay the costs of prosecution (£2 14s) by instalments. Mary Geary had pleaded guilty to a charge of concealment of birth.—Mr Hanlon, for the accused, said that the circumstances under which the child w«3 born had led to the. aocused giving way to a sudden temptation to dispose of it. For four years the girl, who was 21 years of age, had been housemaid at Mr Telford's house at Clifton. At present she was m very delicate health, and mentally was not very strong. A lady in Caver sham wno had taken an interest in the girl while in the Hospital was willing to take her into her home. In the past she had been a good ml, and had worked hard to keep her httle brothers and sisters.—His Honor made an order, releasing the girl on probation for a term of three years. She must be of good behaviour, and pay £5 on account d cost of the prosecution within one year.—The girl fainted as she was beinjr removed from the dock. IN DIVORCE. A u llj |T' and another. , A bus band 6 petition for dissolution of m S rla £ e on 6 ground of adultery. Mr Hay appeared for the petitioner, John MTSTetL There was no appearance of tie respondent, Maiy M'Neil (formerly Samson), or of the co-respondent, Andrew KiJda en SUieer, of Moreau street, St. The evidence, Mr Hay said, would disclose a sad state of affaire. The petitioner ioni r 1 "! - wife in Dunedin ln 19M, and they lived in Dunedin and elsewhere until 1916. The petitioner left ™ May ' 19 u l6 - Ho reamed m March of this year, when he found his wife with a. child, three months old The co-respondent, Crichton, had admitted to ch?ld PO WBS the father of 1116 i en ™ ? iven by John Douglas M'Neil' JWSW Arxrft.'i.Sjft co-respondent. bu-u™. mo , . bakeb v. bakeb. Wifes petition for dissolution of marriage on the grotmd of cruelty and drunkenne^. Ml«n W 1 ** 1 for the petitioner, Ellen Alberta Baker. There was no appearance of the respondent, John Bakor The petitioner said she was married in Dunedin in September. 1898. Her hnshmr was addicted to drink, getting woS 'S the years went on, and in 1914 an agreement of separation was drawn up. There was one daughter of the marriage. Her husband was a labourer in the Railway Workshops. When her husband came homo drunk he was very violent, and often threatened to murder her. One night he wfc 1 f e an 4 knocked two of her teeth out. Another time she found a carving knife under his pillow Evidence was given by Mrs Baker, Ivy Baker, and Mrs i^dkin. A decree nisi was granted, to be made m ° nths; IN BANKRUPTCY. . PETITIONS FOB DISCHARGE. in re James Hewton, of Owaka, labourer —Petition for order of discharge (Mr Dawfion). —Order made. In re Heinrich Zweidbruch and Ella Jane Zweidbnich, of Maungatua, sheep farmers —Petition for orders of discharge (Mr Payne).—Orders made. In re Christopher Henry Wan. Stade, formerly of landis Pass, hotelkeeper.—PetiVaS 1 " ° f discharge < Ml ' Aspinal)). - ust S s ttins in bankruptcy was fixed IN BANCO. ORIGIKATING SUMMONS. Co-operatrve Fruitgrowers' Society of Otago v. The Central Produce Mart,-This ■was an originating summons for a decladetermining a certain question.—Mr Dawson appeared for tho Mr Calvert for the defendant. the Co-operative Fruitgrowers" Society was formed it had no premises in Dunedm, and it was arranged that it should purchase the, business and premises of the £^- ,ce a f' - , *^ le question no v to bo settled was whether the society had Sm, After argument, his Honor reserved his decision. (Pm Unitbd Fbesß Association.) . , WELLINGTON, Mav 20. Supreme Court to-day Martha Hitcnens, clerk to tho Woodville Coun-.v Council, who had pleaded qruiltv to misappropriating £565, the property of that XT 7 ; for sentence. Counsel said Y?®, hitherto borne a good character; that she was a single woman, and a few menhlS fK V % birtl f to a child tha * two 2",™. threatened to expose her, and them inoney to prevent exposure. oZr k : led a L the front > the ! other died recently at. Woodville The case was remanded for further inquiries. T _ c- OHRTSTOHURCH. Mav 20. In the Supreme Court to-day, James Hicks for the dissolution of his marnago with A] wo May Clinton, Leslie '', o,ncd <is co-rosr>onclpnt, and claimed £500 damacres from the latter A decree nisi was granted, and the damages < ™"' w 'P in " »<' — ... AUCKLAND. M»v j?n. The criminal sessions were opened to-rkv. Tlie calendar is li.srht, and the offends of a commoiiplace nature. Oril A HosHns was sentenced to two years' imnrisonmnnt on a charpro of obtaining bv false" nrot™™,, a cheque, for £15; and Tuoete Wniwai was sentenced! to two years' imprisonment on several charges of forgery and false pro-