SUPREME COURT SITTINGS

Southland Times, Issue 16890, 15 November 1911, Page 5

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS

(Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, November 14. At the Supreme Court to-day Frank Roberts, charged with stealing a quantity of leather, was granted probation for twelve months and ordered to pay the costs of the trial. Braithwaite, charged with the theft of three diamond rings, was ordered to be sent to Rotoroa for twelve months. Accused’s counsel said that drink was the cause of the trouble. “So long as we have drinking customs this sort of thing is bound to occur,” said the Chief Justice. “I am not overrating facts when I say that a third of tho cases at the criminal sessions are due to drink. Sometimes tho proportion is two-thirds.” Mr Justice Chapman to-day dismissed the appeal of Scott and Martindale against the decision convicting them of n breach of the Gaming Act in publishing betting cards. Tho Judge held that the failure of appellants to give evidence in denial of any of tho facts or in explanation of matter telling prima facie against them gave cogency to the evidence, and justified the conclusion arrived at by tho Magistrate. John Baker was convicted of stealing a sheep valued at £1 at Ngahamanga, the property of Patrick Kavanagh, and was remanded for sentence. The trial of Edward Francis Moffltt, charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of George Gunther after a blow, was not concluded when the court rose for the day. CHRISTCHURCH, November 14. At the Supreme Court this morning Thomas Veitch, convicted on the previous day of receiving a stolon cheque, applied for a new trial on the ground that the verdict was against the weight of evidence. The Judge refused the application, but deferred sentence to permit prisoner to make application to the Attorney - General.