SUPREME COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21020, 8 May 1930, Page 13

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SESSIONS. AUCKLAND. (Per United Press Association.) . AUCKLAND, May 7. Arraigned on a-charge of robbery with violence and alternative counts of assault and theft, arising from an incident in a house in Hobsou street la6t month, James Daley (fireman), aged 34, was found guilty of assault with intent to rob. Robert Morton (fireman), aged 32, also appeared to answer the same set of charges, and pleaded guilty to robbing Charles Daike of £5 15s, with violence. Both men were remanded for sentence. Charged with breaking and entering Ins wife's house with intent to commit a crime, and also with assaulting his son, Ernest William Armstrong (49), insurance agent, pleaded not guilty. He was found guilty of breaking and entering with intent, with a strong recommendation to mercy. Sentence was deferred. PALMERSTON NORTH. (Peb CJa-ited Press Association.j PALMERSTON NORTH, May 7. After two hours and a-half retirement, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty in the charge against Bache Wright Harvey, a farmer, of Waverley, of negligent driving, causing death. The charge was a sequel to a fatal accident on January 18, when Harvey's car collided at an intersection with a motor cycle ridden by two young men, both of whom were killed. Leonard Douglas Anderson, who was arraigned on a similar charge, was also acquitted. This trial followed a collision near Feilding on February 16, when two motor cyclists collided, at night, resulting in one being killled. WELLINGTON. (Per United Press Association.) . WELLINGTON, May 7. Charges of theft of linen, cutlery, and crockery from the Anchor Shipping Company, valued at fl 3 15s 2d, against Norman Eric Walker, and a joint charge against him and his wife of receiving the goods ia unfinished. George Frederick Murphy, charged with alleged breaking and entering and alleged attempted theft, was found not guilty. . •■■ CHRISTCHURCH. (Feb Uniteu Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 7. A case of alleged arson with some unusual, features came before the Supreme Court to-day. Hubert Harding was charged with having on April 20 last wilfully set fire to a dwelling at 83 Eastern terrace belonging to William M'Rae. He pleaded not guitty. Giving evidence on Ilia own behalf, Harding said he had a "bach" of his own in Eastern terrace. He could remember getting home that night, but could not say anything about the fire, except that, he spoke to some people outside. He did not remember having been inside. To Mr Donnelly (Crown Prosecutor): He said he had been drinking after hours. He was tangled up when he made the statement to the police. Mr Donnelly: "Why did you tell the police an untruth?" Witness: "A pair of bluffing jokers; I would tell them anything.". "Why tellthem something untrue:' " " Just to get rid of them." The jury returned a. verdict of not. guilty, and the accused waa acquitted. Thomas Bishop pleaded not guilty to having obtained a motor car from G. W. Trench, of Trench and England, by false pretences. It was alleged that to pay for the car he gave a cheque for £BO, drawn on the Bank of New bouth Wales at Nelson, representing that it was a valid order for £BO, The jury returned a verdict of not guilty. Arthur Smith, licensee of the Royal Hotel at Lyttelton, waa found guilty of false pretences and remanded until Friday for sentence. Smith was formerly a fisherman, and owner of a launch on which he had borrowed £3OO from the Repatriation Department. He later sold the launch to James Shears for £3OO, but without telling Shears it was mortgaged, and without telling him he (Smith) had no right to sell it. This was the basis of the false pretences charge. Smith had also stated that he had, leased the launch to one Anderson, that it had been taken by Anderson to Wellington, and that Anderson had written to him. that the launch was a total loss, having been burned. The Crown Prosecutor declared that Smith had been guilty of a mean and shady swindle and a disreputable fraud. The jury brought in a verdict of guilty after 10 minutes' retirement.