SUPREME COURT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3494, 22 February 1921, Page 7

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SITTINGS.. Monday, February 14. (Before his Honor Mr Justice Sim.) The quarterly criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were opened by Mr Justice Sim at 10.30 a.m. THE GRAND JURY. The following were sworn in as grand jurors, Mr Neil Galbraith being chosen as foreman: —Samuel Felix Ahum, Thomas Barclay, William Breen, Ernest Roland Burton, David James Calder, Peter Cameron, Robert Lyal Christie, Solon Louis De Beer. Robert Wilson Duncan, Neil Galbraith, George William Gibson, Robert William Mason Greenslade, James Irvine, James Knox, John M‘Coll MacArthur, William Thomas Monkman, James Hugh Nimmo, Charles Russell Smith, George Tilbury, Ivie Win ton. HIS KONOR’S CHARGE. His Honor said there were a large number of oases involving charges against seven persons. With two exceptions, the cases concerned offences against property, the exceptions being that in which two Syrians were charged with assaulting another Syrian so as to cause him actual bodily harm, and another in which a man named Gleeson was charged with perjury. This man had become bankrupt, and made certain sworn statements before the Official Assignee, which statements were shown by evidence in the case to have been untrue. In regard to the balance of the cases, there was that against Alfred Stephen Archer, who had been indicted on three charges of false pretences, two in connection with the funerals of soldiers —for which the accused had the contract —and the other in connection with the funeral of a seaman. In the cases of the soldiers accused had obtained money from the relatives over and above the contract price, and in the seaman’s case money had been obtained from two different people for the same funeral. Then there was the case against William Joseph O’Dwyer, against whom four charges of false pretences were preferred. These referred to the passing of valueless cheques, and the evidence in the lower court was a striking illustration of the ease with which business men allowed themselves to be defrauded. One gentleman had given an exchange cheque for £ls to accused, whom he had apparently never seen before, and who had not been recommended to him by any person. The bank official at Palmerston North had testified that ihe accused had an account showing a credit balance of £2 12s 3d, and that cheques amounting to £345 13s 6d had been presented against this. The next case was against Edward Fleming, who was charged with stealing a parcel containing three opossum skins from a train on which he was acting as assistant guard. The last case was against William Aitken, who was charged with deliberately setting fire to a dwelling-house in Serpentine avenue in November last. Accused had admitted responsibility for thp fire, but said that it had been accidentally caused while he was sitting on the bed smoking in the house (which was his sister’s), to which he had gone to seek his wife. The grand jury found ‘'true bills” in all cases. In no case was a defence called on. All the prisoners for trial pleaded guilty, with the single exception of Alfred Stephen Archer, who, though he pleaded guilty to three charges of fraud, pleaded not guilty to two others. In tiio latter eases the Crown offered no evidence, and the jury returned a formal verdict of not guilty. Seven prisoners came up for trial and seven tor sentence. Thomas Arthur Taylor was admitted to three years’ probation for breaking and entering. John James Stubley, with a bad police record, was sentenced to reformative treatment for a period not exceed ng seven years for breaking and entering and theft. John Walter Baxter was admitted to three years’ probation for breaking and entering and theft, and for a series of similar ofCc cos, Philip John Edward Hancock and Edwin Austin Irving were each sentenced to not more than five years’ reformative treatment. George Alexander Magorian, charged with breaking and entering and theft was released on three years’ probation. For theft of postal packets, William Thomas Pickering was released on three years’ probation. For arson William Aitken was given five years on probation ; for theft from a railway train, Edward Fleming was given three years on probation, and for perjury to the Official Assignee, Lotus Gleeson was given three- years’ probation under stringent conditions and ordered to pay £22 4s 4d costs within a month, and £IOO to his creditors within a year. Michael and Annie Lahood, for assaulting Michael John were fined £lO each, and ordered to pay £ls costs. Alfred Stephen Archer, for fraud in connection with military funerals, was fined £SO. The criminal business of tho court was finished at 3 o’clock.

Fbidav, Febbuaky 18. (Before his Honor Mr Justice Sim.) Mr Justice Sim, sitting in chambers, granted letters of administration in the

estates of Edward Joseph Gibson and Edward Hall Watson. Probates were granted in the estates of the following persons:—Thomas Johnston M'Kerrow, George Henry Brando a, Charles King, Catherine Webster, Margaret Ann Souleby, William Rutherford Darling (regranted). In re Frederic William Daly, deceased. — This was a petition by the widow for leave to apply part of the estate for the maintenance of the children.—The petitioner was authorised as from January 1, 1921, to apply 15s a week out of the share of the three youngest children of the deceased for the maintenance and benefit of each child. In ro Donald Watt, deceased.—This was a petition for direction as to the notices to creditors and others with respect to claims. — Creditors and others to send in claims on or before August 1, 1921. In ro an instrument by way of security given by Thomas YY illiam Soper to Messrs James Macalister, Ltd.—This was a motion rcr an order extending the time for the registration of the renewal of the instrument.— llie time was extended to February 21, 1921 In re W alter Guthrie, deceased.—This was a motion for the appointment of a representative of {he infant children and for ser\ico by registered letter.—An order was made appointing Francis Spencer Brent, of Dunedin, solicitor, _ representative of the infant children, and directing that service of notices be effected by registered letter. Lilian May Allen v. James John Allen, in divorce.-—This was a motion for directions as lo services of citation.—Personal service to be dispensed with, and an abstract of the citation to be published in certain newspapers. OTHER CENTRES. PALMERSTON N., February 1. At the Supreme Court Thomas Martin was found guilty of attempting to influence Jurymen at the last Supreme Court sittings, and sentenced to 12 months’ hard labour. WELLINGTON, February 5. In the Supreme Court, Mr Justice Chapman imposed the following sentences on prisoners who had been found guilty during the week: John Lawrence Sullivan, forgery and theft, 12 months’ imprisonment; James | Archer (ex-borough engineer of Masterton), j 14 charges of forgery in connection with the borough funds, the defalcations totalling £735, two years with hard labour; Archibald Andrew Charles Scott, forgery and theft at Nelson, two years’ reformative I treatment at Invercargill; Benjamin ! Frederick John Taylor, assault and robbery ! at Foxton, 12 months with hard labour; Frederick Thompson, manslaughter at Carterton, seven years with hard labour. February 8. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court was continued to-day, Mr Justice Chapman presiding. Consideration was given to the case against Edward William Slattery Corliss, who was charged with breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Donald Gillies and stealing jewellery valued at £53 and £2 10s in cash. After hearing evidence, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and accused was discharged. February 10. At the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court Andrew Murray Boggs, middle-aged, was sentenced to five years’ hard labour. During the hearing of the case counsel for I the defence raised the defence that the victim of the offence was not the prisoner’s daughter but was the daughter of another man, and was born before he married the mothe r. Febr nary 11. \ At the Wellington Supreme Court to-day Samuel McDonald and George Wells were sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with hard labour which is to be followed by reformative treatment for a period not exceeding three years, for breaking- and entering by day and stealing money and jewellery. For indecent assault on a boy, John Montague was sentenced to four years’ hard labour; on a charge of receiving stolen goods, Arthur Joseph Langham was admitted to probation for a period of two years, and Frederick James Patching was sentenced to six months’ hard labour. February 12. William Herbert Millar, charged with forgery and uttering, was admitted to probation for three years. February 15. At the Supreme Court to-day the following prisoners who had pleaded guilty came up for sentence: —William Joseph Curtin, housebreaking, admitted to probation for three years; George Robert Kemp, false pretences, admitted to probation for three years, and ordered to pay £5 towards the cost of the prosecution. CHRISTCHURCH, February 18. This morning sentences were passed on several prisoners by Mr .Tusiice Ilerdrnan. Richard Iliehens. for wounding Raymond Rayley at Addington, two years’ hard labour. William James Edgar, John William Cleary, Frederick George Chick, and Edward Martin Hand, for breaking and entering and theft, were severally sentenced — Edgar to two years’ hard labour ; Hand to six months’ hard labour; Cleary and Chick to two years’ reformative detention. On a second charge of receiving stolen goods a conviction was recorded against Cleary, but no sentence passed. John Quigley, for being unlawfully on premises, was sentenced to 18 months’ hard labour.