SUPREME COURT

Otago Witness, Issue 3348, 15 May 1918, Page 37

SUPREME COURT

PALMERSTON N., May 13. Tho Supreme Court opened this morning before Mr Justice Hosking. Frances Elizabeth Gawith, against whom a true bill was returned, pleaded guilty to three charges of forgery and two charges of detaining letters while postmistress at Kelvin Grove. She was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, and to pay £5 towards tho cost of tho prosecution. NEW PLYMOUTH, May 13. Tho Supremo Court opened this morning, the Chief Justice presiding. Herbert Langstaff, Duncan M'Arthur, and "William James Jones pleaded guilty to breaking and entering a wood storo at Waitara and stealing wood. Langstaff and M'Arthur were admitted to IB months' probation, on condition that they paid £5 towards tho cost of the prosecution, and did not enter an hotel or drink intoxicants; Jones to 15 months' imprisonment, with hard_ labour. Oswald Harris, a boy, was admitted to three years' probation for an unnatural offence," and was ordered to pay £5 towards tho cost of tho prosecution. For breaking and entering a storo at Okato and theft, Fred W. Roebuck and Fred L. M'Gregcr wero sentenced to two years' reformative treatment. Arthur Leigh Corbett, a lad, was admitted to three years' probation, and was ordered to pay seven guineas towards tho cost of the prosecution. Ho is not to enter an hotel or drink intoxicants during his probation. In his charge to the Grand Jury, the Chief Justice referred to tho amount of crime directly traceable to drink. He said that at least one-third of the crimo in New Zealand was tho direct result of the drinking habit. He thought tho people were dead to all sense of humanity towards their fellows in not stopping drinking, by which some of the best men of the country were brought tc crime. He was amazed that, in the midst of tho terrible war, peoplo continue to spend money on drink and pleasures, thoso at home leaving all the sacrifice to bo made by the men who had gene to the front. CHRISTCHURCH. May 13. ' In the Supreme Court to-day. Thomas Henry Field was found guilty on a charge of attempted rape, and sentence was deferred. John Thomas Ruokard, charged on two counts with the theft of posted packets at Waiau. was found not guilty.