SUPREME COURT

Otago Witness, Issue 3509, 14 June 1921, Page 19

SUPREME COURT

INVERCARGILL, June 7. ! In the Supreme Court Frank Dynasky, charged with breaking and entering, was admitted to three years’ probation. Robert L. Beckham, convicted of theft, was similarly dealt with. Both are to be prohibited. Thomas George Cartwright was charged with setting fire to a dwelling and making false declarations to secure the insurance money. He was acquitted of the charge of arson, but found guilty of making a false declaration in a claim on the insurance company. He was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment BLENHEIM, June 3. In the Supreme Court to-day Arthur James Bailey, charged with incest, was found guilty, and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment with hard labour. NAPIER, June 7. The Napier session of the Supreme Court was opened to-dav, when Mr Justice Reed was congratulated by the Hawke’s Bay Bar on his recent appointment. Addressing tlie grand jury, his Honor commented on the fact that three sexual cases were included in the calandar. Napier was not alone in this respect, this class of crime seemed to be on the increase throughout the dominion. Two charges of indecent assault) on girls of tender years were proved at the Supreme Court, to-day before Mr Justice Reed. Several adult witnesses swore that they had seen Joseph Simms commit an indecent assault on a little girl at tile Hastings racecourse. In the second case the accused (Michael Cuddihy), a man between 70 and 80 years of age. who assaulted a girl aged six years, pleaded that at his age a man was not subject to moral lapses; but his Honor pointed out that in most eases of this kind of offenders were men who had reached that age. Roth accused were remanded for sentence. William Janies M‘Cain, a postal cadet, was found guilty of opening letters He will be sentenced to-morrow. June 10. In the Napier Supreme Court, Mr Justice Reed sentenced die following:—Joseph Simms (indecent assault), two years’ re formative treatment; Michael Cuddity (indecent assault), three years’ reformative; Irware Taoho (indecent assault). six months; Thomas Wentworth Marian (cattle stealing in the Gisborne district) 1 ; one year, to be followed by two years’ reformative treatment; Andrew Brice Boyd (theft), admitted to probation for two years.