SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 53

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

AUCKLAND. December 1. In the caire of the second trial of WilJiam Thomas Gibson, charged with having improper relations with his wife's cousin, a girl under tho age of 16 years, at Waihi, the juiy, after a hearing extending ov«r two days, returned a verdict of "Not iguilty." December 5. Henry Thompson, who was found guilty on 10 charges of wilful indecency, was brought "before the Supreme Court for sentence to-day. On being asked if he had anything to say, the prisoner maintained silence. In passing sentence his Honor charac terised the offences of which the prisoner had been found guilty as particularly disgusting. A single offence of this character, he said; had been treated as being so serious that although in the first instance it came under the Police Offences Act, provision had been made so that the Magistrate could commit a prisoner to the Supreme Court for trial in order that he might be adequately pnnished. '" A whipping seems to be pjrticularly appropriate in such a case." continued the judge, "but, unfortunately, through an oversight in framing the law it is not in my power to order that punishment. All that the act says is that the offender may be sent to the Supreme Court for tiial. The section of the Crimes Act dealing with the nffeni c states that no flogging shall be inflidid on the defendant if he is over 16 u-.us of ago. If you were under 16 I could order you to be whipped. But for this oversight I could order you to be whipped; nevei lhele»s you will not esrape serious consequences, nor do 1 intend to treat the case as though it «eie one art. The extreme punishment tor a single offence i- one year's imprison- | nient. "Xou, the whole history of the <a-.<> shows that the offences were premeditated, and not committed on the spur of the moment. I will not giv» you the full penalty (10 \ears), but I shall let you nuclei stand, as well as those similaily Afflicted by such beastly instincts, that for such offences there will be substantial punishment."' The actu=cd was sentenced to two months' imprisonment on each charge, the term to be cumulative. December 2. At the Supreme Court a decree nisi was granted in Timothy Edwin Jones, bushman, of Waihi. * against Emma Katherine Jones, on the ground of misconduct. . December 4. | In the Supreme Court to-day a decree nisi was granted on an application by John Bowden (ticket collector) against Maud Elaine Bowden on the ground of misconduct with John Houley. The parties were only manied in Februaiy

last, but it was stated that the wife was a confunied dipsomaniac. Cecilia Symoai was granted a decree nisi from Harry Symon on the ground of misconduct. A. decree nisi was granted to George Tnornaa New-some from his wife.' Margaret Dennison Xewsome. an the ground of misconduct with Samuel Earl (co-respondent), witb whom she was alleged to be living as mai 1 . and wife at Gisborne. WELLIIipTON. November 23.

To-day Mr Justice Cooper sentenced a youth named Ronald Jones, on two charges of breaking and entering, to V£ months' imprisonment, to be kept separate from the other prisoners. A sentence of seven years was imposed on Tobias Miller for having attempted to murder Ernest Hight by shooting him with a revolver. John Wilson, alias Kiely, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for bigamy. He admitted that he had been previously; convicted of bigamy.

November 26.

At the" Supreme Court to-day Frank Carr, charged on several counts ivitb stealing cattle, was found not guilty. December 2.

After three trials on a charge of having assaulted a wharf labourer, John Butler was found guilty on the minor count, and sentenced at the Supreme Court to-day to _ three months' imprisonment. Walter Alister Lindsay was found guilty of indecently assaulting a Maori lad and" was sentenced to seven years* imprisonment. INVERCARGILL. December 1. ->

The- Supreme Court opened this morning. There are only two criminal cases. Mr Justice Williams remarked that th« calendar showed that in this part of the . Dominion there was no criminal class. Harold Barlow', aged 18 years, pleaded] '" Guilty " to a criminal assault on. a girl of seven years. The lad, a musician; with a travelling theatrical company, vras sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment.

The Grand Jury found no bill on the indictment against David Cochrane, secretary of the Frozen Meat Company, who was' charged witb committing perjury in the civil action Watson Bros. v. the company for the value of sheep shipped by the Turakina without plaintiffs* instructions.

Reginald Day, late secretary of th« Southland Charitable Aid Board, was' charged with having stolen two sums — £137 7s lOd and £8 14s 6d,— and with having fraudulently omitted to make credit entries for these sums in- his cash hook. Mr Macalister appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Hanlon and Mr Longuet for the accused. The , jury retired at 5.35, and, after being locked up, for the full time allowed, disagreed. December 4.

At the Supreme Court to-day a decree nisi, with £200 damages against the corespondent, was made in the case of Phillips v. Phillips and Roberts, a husband's petition on the ground of adul., terv. • December 5. « At the Supreme Court a young woman of 18, the body of whose child was found., on the road some distance from Winton," was admitted to six months' probation for concealment of birth.