SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3114, 19 November 1913, Page 59

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

AUCKLAND, November 8. At the Supreme Court to-day the follow* iug prisoners were sentenced: John Fitt* forgery, 12 uroliths’ imprisonment and 12 mouths’ reformative treatment; Alex. JVTlntosh, nine thefts, five years’; Tom Ousley, false declaration under tire Marriage Act, three months’ imprisonment; John Mansfield, theft, three years’ reformative treatment. AUCKLAND, November 17. Addressing the Grand Jury at the opening of the Supreme Court this morning Mr Justice Edwards remarked that of 24 bills one-third were for disgusting offences against persons There was one charge of murder and one of manslaughter. A decree nisi wag granted in the case of Theodore J. Harrison against Queeniss Wilhelmina Harrison, on the ground of misconduct, the co-respondent being Harry E. Myers, Petitioner resides at Matiere, and lived with his wife for three years at Elthani. WELLINGTON, November 13. Decrees nisi were granted in the following divorce cases, heard to-day:—William Joseph Decker v. Lylie Eliza Decker (misconduct), Ciara Elizabeth Blatcher v. Charles Blatcher (misconduct), Florence Dora Lanek v. Johan Fredrick Lanek (desertion), Eva Margaret Tidyman v. William John Tidyman (desertion), Beatrice Evelina Tovey v. Sydney Tovey (misconduct), Julia Moffath v. Herbert Moffath (misconduct), Arundel Harry Smith v. Angelina Josephine Smith (misconduct), Everldoune Frederick Hiscocks v. Eva Isabel Hiscocks (misconduct). November 15. At the Supreme Court to-day James Smith, charged with theft, was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment. Walter James Haslar, on a charge of assault on a female, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment and declared an habitual criminal. Three lads, charged with forgery and uttering at Taihape, were admitted to probation. CHRISTCHURCH, November 17. The criminal session opened before Mr Justice Denniston to-day. The calendar comprises eight indictments involving nine individuals. His Honor, in his charge, said that a prima facie case in the charge of murder against Biddle was clear. There was his admission that he struck the blows. The case would give the Grand Jury no trouble.

Walter Herbert Bassett appeared for sentence for bigamy, and received a year’s imprisonment. Several true bills were returned, including Alfred Mortram Biddle on a charge of murder at Mayfield. A middle-aged man named John M ‘Clnskey, charged with committing an indecent assault on a child six years of age, wan sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, and-declared an habitual criminal. Accused possessed a very bad record. Frederick Annitage, charged with stealing a bicycle, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.