SUPREME COURT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 21

SUPREME COURT.

IN BANKRUPTCY. Monday, February 11. (Before his Honor Mr Justice Sim.) In re Samuel Moore, of Totara, farmer.— Motion for discharge.—His Honor said that the Official Assignee reported that there was no reason for refusing the discharge. An order would be mado for hankrupt'3 immediate discharge. In re Thomas Harnoy, of Windsor, farmer.—Motion for discharge (Mr W. L. Moore).—His Honor said that tho repoit of the Official Assignoe wan favourable, and there was no opposition. An order would be made for bankrupt's immediate discharge. In re Alexander Campbell King, of Port Chalmers, draper.—Motion for discharge.— Mr 0. N. Sourr (instructed by Mr Haggitt) appeared .in support of tho motion, and said he understood that it was to be opposed.— His Honor: What creditor is opposing?— Mr Scurr: The creditor Hinton.—His Honor: He knows the application is coming on.—Mr Scurr: Yes, I was informed*by his solicitor that it was to be opposed.— The Official Assignee (Mr Browne) .said that Mr Dawson was acting for the creditor, and knew that the matter was coming en.—His Honor: Well, I suppose the idea of opposing it has been abandoned.' —Mr Scurr said that bankrupt was employed as a draper's assistant, and the debt wa3 incurred in connection with divorce proceedings.—His Honor: That is the only debt?— Mr Scurr: Yes, of any magnitude. At the meeting of creditors he (Mr Scurr). being a creditor, moved that the debtor be recommended for his immediate discharge. That, was seconded by Mr Watson (another creditor), and the only other creditor present was Mr Hinton, who opposed it. The amount of his debt swamped the debts of the other two. and the motion was lost. — His Honor said there did not appear to ho any ground for not granting the motion. An order would be made for bankrupt's immediate discharge. The next sitting in bankruptcy was fixed for May 6. IN OTHER CENTRES. AUCKLAND, February 4. The- criminal sessions opened at Auckland today. Mr Justice Stringer, in his charge to the grand jury, said the calendar contained 21 cases, including 10 involving dishonesty, five offences against the person, three concerning the unlawful use of instruments, and one of bigamy. His Honor noted with satisfaction a decrease in sexual offences against young girls. Ho was firmly convinced that these offences were due to a lack of proper supervision and control by garonts. Young people wer9 allowed to wander about the streets at night without the attendance of a responsible person. He hoped the diminution in this class of offence was an indication that parents had at last come to a proper sense of their responsibility. Thomas Rowe was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with hard labour, for tho forgery of a withdrawal order on the Auckland Savings Bank, and uttering it to an assistant in a shop. The accused was warned that on his next offence he would be declared an habitual criminal. A coloured man named William Scarboroa pleaded,guilty to a charge of breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime, and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with hard labour, and was declared an habitual criminal for the third time.

February 5. At the Supreme Court, Arthur Henry Burns was charged with bigamy. It was shown that accused married a Maori in 1912, but was subsequently separated from her.. He later met a European girl, whom he married in November, 1917, saying he believed that his first wife was dead, information to this effect having been given to him by Maoris with whom she had been living. Accused, in evidence, said that ho firmly believed that his first wife was dead.' A verdict of guilty was returned. The judge ordered him to come up for sentence when called upon, on condition that ho took steps to annul the first marriage, and did tho right thing by marrying the girl to whom he had done such a grievous wrong. He was also ordered to pay £lO, the costs of the prosecution. NEW PLYMOUTH, February 4. The Supreme Court was opened to-day before Mr Justice Edwards. George Thos. Gifkini appeared for sentence on a charge of forgery and uttering, and was admitted to probation for two years and ordered to pay the costs of tho prosecution. Ngatai Peririka was'acquitted on two charges of calttle -stealing. Mark de Gama pleaded guilty to one charge, and was found guilty on another, of committing unnatural offences upon littlo boys at Hawera. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to be consecutive.

February 6. In the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr Justice Edwards, a decree nisi was granted in the divorce case Ellen M'Cracken v. John M'Cracken, on the ground of misconduct. A similar decision was given in the case of Rosa Mary Pearson v. Robert Pearson on the ground of failure to support petitioner. An interesting appeal was heard against the decieion of Mr Crooke, S.M., in dismissing an informations under the SSlo of Foods and Drugs Act. _ Samples of milk were purchased by an inspector from one Clemow, who carted milk sold by —— Sanger to Butler. The question involved the liability of Clemow as the seller's agent. Decision was reserved. WELLINGTON, February 2. In the Supremo Court to-day Mr Justice Hosking ordered A. T. Doyle and Percy Simmis, two lads who were found guilty on charges of breaking and entering and theft, to undergo reformative treatment at Invercargill for a period not exceeding three years. Another lad (Joseph Henry Pilse), six charges of theft from the Royal Exchange Assurance Company, was also ordered reformative treatment not exceeding three years. Fred Emmanuel Simmis, charged with stealing a motor car which he was being taught to drive, was ordered to come up for sentence when called on. Anderson Christie Finney, for bigamy, was sentenced to imprisonment until March 20 next. . . , , , . Herbert Stanley Aitkenhead, found guilty of forging an entry in a soldier's pay-book, was granted probation for 18 months. He wa3 afterwards arrested as a military deserter. Feorunry 9. The following prisoners were sentenced in the Supreme -Court to-day :—Arthur

Waldenan fcchaef ; for two breaches of the Bankruptcy Act, to two yeais' reformative treatment; John Burt, fcheft, to 12 months' reformative treatment; William Henry Gardiner, indecent assault, to four months' bard labour; John Patrick Regan, theft, and David Adamson, theft, each admitted to probation; John Thomas Siines, on «ix charges of indecent assault, to four years' hard labour; Arthur Childs Collins, charged with being a rogue and vagabond, was admitted to probation. CHRISTCHURCH, February 8. The following sentences were imposed in tho Supreme Court at Christchurch this morning:— Walter Francis Cribb (30), bigamy, five years'" hard labour. Thomas M'Millan, theft, two years' hard labour, and declared an habitual criminal. Ernest Edward Branshaw (7), theft, placed under the care of tho Salvation Army for three years. Frederick Richard Woodley (34), breaking, entering, and theft, three months' hard labour. Percival John Edwards (16), arson, four 'years' reformative treatment. Walter Robert Edwards (28), samo offenoe, two years' reformative treatment.