SUPREME COURT

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 26

SUPREME COURT

OTHER CENTRES. AUCKLAND, May 19. _ The criminal sessions were opened this morning in the Supreme Court. Mr Justice Stringer said there were 23 charges to bo considered, including seven relating to sexual offences, 11 involving dishonesty, and three of assault, none of which presented any difficulties. James Moylan denied a charge of having stolen a cashbox and contents from a house in Grey street. The accused was convicted of receiving only, and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Wera Simons, a young Maori, pleaded not guilty to a charge of false declaration to the Registrar of Marriages at Auckland for the purpose of procuring a marriage certificate. It was stated that the girl whom the accused married was a white girl, and that the accused knew quite well that she was only 20 years old when he declared she was 21. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, with a recommendation to mercy, stating that it did not consider thab the accused realised the seriousness of what he was doing. The accused was fined £lO. Olaf Robert Thorkalson, for breaking a plateglass window in a draper's shop in Queen street, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. May 22. William Montague Davenport Howes, aged .70 years, was found guilty in the Supremo Court of. unnatural offences, and_ was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment." Mr Justice Stringer said it was his duty to segregate the accused from decent human beings. Ho realised that the accused would probably die in gaol, but ho could appeal to the Prisons Board if he wished. He (the judge) would have been entitled to send the accused to gaol for life. May 24. ■ln the Supreme Court, George Dale and James Gilmour were sentenced to five yearß' imprisonment each for an attempt to commit a serious offence at Rotorua. May 31. In the Supreme Court to-day Beauchamp Walesby was convicted on a second trial for indecent assault, and sentenced to two years' imprisonment. PALMERSTON NORTH. May 14. At the Supreme Court to-day Joseph Williams, a Native, was found guilty of the manslaughter of Richard Frechtling, whom he knocked down while driving a motor car through the street at Levin. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. NEW PLYMOUTH, May 14. The case against Albert Charles Ogilvie of attle-stealing was concluded in the Supreme Court to-day. The jury, after two hours' retirement, returned a verdict of not guilty. May 15.

In tho Supreme Court to-day the jury disagreed in the case of an alleged indecent assault against Alfred James Bysantson, of Mokau, and a new trial was ordered tomorrow. In the divorce jurisdiction Duncan John Hepburn, of Hawera, applied for a divorce from May Hepburn (James Edward Sole, of Hawera, being joined as co-respondent), on the grounds of adultery. Ths denial of adultery by respondent was abandoned during the hearing, and the defence was raised that petitioner's conduct conduced to adultery. The jury found for pstitioner, with £IOO damages and costs against co-re-spondent. May 16. At the re-trial of Alfred James Sysanton, charged with indecently assaulting two little girls at Mokau, th© jury returned a verdict of not guilty. Decrees nisi -were made in the following divorce cases: —Rose Wilson v. Hugh Wilson, Emma Elizabeth Wilson v. Frederick Charles Wilson, Mary Hutchinson v. Thomas Hutchinson, and Evelyn Brett v. George L. Brett. WELLINGTON, May 13. In the Supreme Court, Reginald Joseph Devonshire, a clerk employed by the Bank of Australasia at Masterton, pleaded guilty to the theft of sums aggregating £745, the property of the bank. He was remanded till Saturday for sentence. William Barir nerman Rogers wsa found guilty of an indscent assault on a girl 6£ years of age, and was remanded till Saturday for sentence. May 15. In the Supreme Court to-day Christian Henry Jensen was found gruilty of assaulting George Basan, and remanded for sentence. In the case in which Percy Cashman was charged with assaulting and wounding Matthew Willie, the jury was unable to agree, and a now trial was granted.

May 17. The following sentences were imposed by the Chief Justice this morning :r-Charles Edward Rossiner Puddick, theft of a motor car (two charges), 12 months' imprisonment on each; William Bannerman Rogers, three years' reformative treatments for indecent assault; William Henry Aspinall, three years' reformative treatment for indecent assault; Reginald Joseph Devonshire, bank clerk, 18 months' reformative treatment for the theft of bank moneys; Lawrence John Maloney, two _ years' imprisonment for breaking, entering, and theft; John James Joseph Lee, five years'_ reformative for wounding his wife; Christian Henry Jensen, 12 months for assault.; Jean Collyns, two years and a-half, and Alice Scoble three years, for illegal operation. May 19. In the Supreme Court, James Arthur Pollard, a native of the West Indies, was found guilty of breaking, entering, and stealing musical instruments valued at £125. «He was remanded until a eceond charge of theft had been heard. Albert William Murray was found guilty of stealing a kit of carpenter's tools, and was remanded for sentence. May 21. In tho Supreme Court, James Arthur Pollard, a coloured man, was charged with breaking, entering, and theft. Tho jury returned a verdict of not guilty. May 23. At the Supreme Court to-day the following sentences were passed : James Arthur Pollard, a coloured man, found guilty of theft, 18 months' hard labour and declared an habitual criminal. Percy Cashman, for assault and causing actual bodily harm, nine months. William Aldren Murray, theft, six months. Henry Arthur Grant, indecent assault on a little girl, five years' reformative detention. While sentencing Grant the Chief Justice had something to say regarding a necessary deterrent. He said that so far as sexual cases were concerned he had noted what had been eaid by Mr Justice Stringer. In his 20 yeaTs on tho l«w>ch he had never ordered a man to be

flogged, but if sexual cases were going to increase, and the lives of little children were not poing to be safe in the country owing to their being attacked by scoundrels, he would have very seriously to consider having to order that the utmost rigour of the law should be applied to offenders. CHRISTCHURCH, May 13. In the Supreme Court to-day Alma Quin tall waa sentenced to 12 months' reformative imprisonment for theft. Edward Cornelius Sullivan, who had pleaded guilty hi the lower court to several charges of theft, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Harris Thomas Hunter a postal officer, was found not guilty of the theft of a postal packet containing a cheque for £ll 4s. INVERCARGILL, May 27. In the Supreme Court, before Mr Justice Sim, James Graham Clung, aged 20 yeare, pleaded guilty to charges of breaking, entering, and theft. He was ordered to come up for sentence when called on, and to remain in the Salvation Army Homo for five years. May 28. In the Supreme Court Nathaniel Charles Bates was found guilty of indecent assault on a married woman. Ho was fined £ls, and was ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution. "Thomas Watson M'Gill waa acquitted on a charge of carnal knowledge of a girl under 16 years. THE CHIEF JUSTICE AMAZED. WELLINGTON, May 14. At the Supreme Court to-day Arthur James Ford and Thomas Evans, employed as night-watchmen at the Defence Stores, Buckle street, were charged with the theft of a variety of articles from the stores. Evans pleaded not guilty; Ford pleaded guilty of tho theft of articles found in the bag ho was carrying when arrested. Among-, the witnesses for the prosecution was Ford, who explained that ho was under the influence of liquor on the night of the theft and could remember little about the proceedings. Apparently the goods exhibited in court had been taken by him into the yard Evans then cleared out-with some of the goods, among which was a Toll of damask cloth. Counsel for the defence said that after the evidence given by Ford he did not intend calling any witnesses The jury returned after half an hour's absence and asked the Chief Justice whether an accomplice in a case of theft could be held guilty. His Honor replied affirmatively. The jury, after another hour's absence, returned a verdict of not guilty. His Honor asked if the jury understood the charge he had given them. Tho foreman: "Yes, sir." His Honor: "I can only say that it is the most extraordinary case I ever had in my life, and I have been 20 years on the bench." Lawrence John Moloney pleaded guilty to breaking and entering, and was remanded till Saturday for sentence.