Supreme Court.

Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 86, 15 December 1885, Page 2

Supreme Court.

(Before Chief Judge Prendergast.) The Supreme Court sittings opened yesterday morning. The calendar contained but four cases—two for larceny, one for forgery, and one attempt to procure abortion. The following were sworn in as a Grand Jury—J. W. Johnson (foreman), W. K. Chambers, J. H. Kirk, M. J. Gannon, J. T. Morgan. ?.!. r '. Nasmith, C. C. Lambert, R. Colebrook, T. vV. Porter, W. Parnell, C. Westrup, J. Berry, J. R. Morgan, A. W. Croft, D. Isles, P. E. Richardson, W. Maude, J. McKenzie, G. F. Butt, R. R. Curtis, G. H. Harris, J. H. Aislabie, and J. E. Walsh. In addressing the Grand Jury His Honor briefly referred to the above cases, and then dismissed them to the consideration of the bills.

True bills were found in each case with I the exception of T. Wilson, larceny of £io, when the latter was UrwrUgTgcd. Forgery and Larceny. Witliam Henry Holland was charged with forging and uttering a cheque for Ll 6 and also with the larceny of a cow. The prisoner pleaded not guilty to both charges. Mr Nolan prosecutnd on behalf of the Crown, and Mr Kenny for the defence. The following jurymen were then called —Messrs R. Bougen, T. Williams, W. Qulton, M. Sullivan, J. McCormick, R. Sherratt, T. Cain, J. Rosie (foreman), H. Morse, F. Cooper, A. Bond, and A. Park. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and ( he was sentenced to two years’ penal servitude on the first charge and one year on the second-—sentences to run concurrently. Larceny. Wi Pin pi Manti pleaded guilty to the larceny of a horse and saddle, and was sentenced to six months' hard labor, Attempt to Procure Abortion. James Dolman pleaded not guilty to the above offence on Emily Richardson. Mr Nolan appeared for the prosecution and Mr DeLautour for the defence. The following jury were empanelled — A. Keefer (foreman), F. Cooper, T. Williams, A. McLean, H. Morse, A. Park, G. Brocklebank, W. Oulton, H. J. Reed, T. Cain, J. Carson, and W. A. Russell. Ar the request of the defendant all the witnesses were ordered out of Court. After an able address on behalf of the defence followed by Mr Nolan for the prosecution, His Honor addressed the jury to the effect that the prisoner was charged with administering a noxious drug, which was not alone calculated to endanger the life of the embryo child, but also of the mother bearing the same. The Legislature had seen fit and necessary in tbeinteeests of society to visit this crime with the greatest severity. This peculiar description of crime was generally perpetrated with the greatest secrecy, and those who had knowledge of this crime carried it out in their own cunning method. But in this case it would seem it had been done with the greatest publicity. He agreed with the counsel for the prosecution, but the girl's evidence was scarcely admissible if it had not been confirmed by so much other evidence. The whole consideration of the case rested upon the evidence as to what took place on the Queen’s Birthday, and what took place a fortnight afterwards, when Sissy saw prisoner come to the window. His Honor concluded with the remark that the jury would have to consider whether the prisoner, after having had connection with the girl, had tried to procure the crime with which he was charged. The jury then retired, and about 1.30 a.m. returned a verdict of guilty. Judgment was reserved.