SUPREME COURT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1785, 3 November 1919, Page 11

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

A criminal session of the Supreme Court was commenced at Christchurch to-day, before his Honour Mr Justice Herdman.

Mr A. T. Donnelly, on behalf of Mr S. G. Raymond, K.C., appeared for the Crown. Mr J. G. Herdman was elected foreman of the Grand Jury.

In the course of his address to the Grand Jury, his Honour ~~ said it was his pleasant duty to announce that the jury's duties would be light. There were 10 indictments against 10 prisoners, but none of the charges were grave and none should present any difficulties. True bills were returned in every case. ALLEGED THEFT. The first case was that of Marie Hill and Daniel Murray, alias Jackson, who were charged with stealing £l5O 10/- on October 12, 1919, the property of Wilhelmina David, proprietress of the Trocadero Hotel, Christchurch

The prisoners were not represented by counsel. . Mr Donnelly said that on October 11 the two accrued booked a room at the Trocadero under the name of Mr and Mrs Murray. The money was taken from the cash-box in the office of the hotel on the following day, a Sunday. On the Monday the accused admitted the theft when interviewed by the police. Catherine Gibson, employed as manageress at the Trocadero Hotel, said she had missed £3O 10/- in notes from the cash-box in the office. This was on the Sunday evening. To the male prisoner: She could not identify the stolen notes. The complainant said that on the Sunday afternoon the female accused asked her to change a £1 note. Witness went to the desk in the office to get the money out of the The "desk was locked, but the cash-box was not. There was £SO or £6O in the box, and this Hill must have seen when the box was opened. When Hill received the change, she walked out of the office, but witness did not see where she went. Witness left the office for a short while, leaving the cash-box unlocked on the desk,- which was open. When she returned she noticed that the cash-box had been shifted slightly from its usual place, but she did not think of looking in it. It was about 8.30 that night that the money was missed. The police were notified of the theft on the Monday morning. ™ To the male prisoner: It would have been quite possible for anyone to have walked into the office, through the front door of the hotel, and taken-the money. Plain-clothes Constable Bickerdike said that on Monday, October 13, he interviewed the accused. When charged with the theft, the female accused at first denied all knowledge of the affair, but then said to Murray, "Hand them the notes, Dan; they know all about it." Murray said, "You have given the game away." In the course of a voluntary statement, the female accused said Murray had stolen the notes whilst she sat outside the office door on guard. To the male prisoner: He had not tricked Hill into making the statement. A statement made by Murray was also put in. In this statement Murray admitted having stolen the money. Asked if she had anything to say, the femalo prisoner said she wished to apply for an adjournment of the case so that she might bring evidence to prove where the money found on Murray came from. His Honour refused the application. He said accused had had plenty of time to secure such evidence.

Murray, addressing the jury, said he had come down from Wellington with Hill for the week-end. Hill was not too well, and he thought it would do her good. They had stayed at the Trocadero. He had £4l in his possession when he came down, and the money found on him when arrested was part of it. The statements made by the police were fictitious. They were on their way back to Wellington when arrested. He did not know why they had been charged with the theft.

After a 10 minutes' retirement, the jury returned with a verdict of guilty against both prisoners. Hill pleaded for another chance, and promised to lead a respectable life in the future. Murray had nothing to say.

His Honour said that had not Hill been previously convicted of vagrancy he would'have given her a chance. She would be sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour. Addressing Murray, his Honour said his case was very different. He had been convicted of theft in 1909. In 1912 he was again convicted on three charges of theft and declared an habitual criminal. In 1915 he was convicted of theft and assault and again declared an habitual criminal. It was evident that accused was determined to lead a life of crime. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour and was again declared an habitual criminal. A PRISON BREAKER. Robert Dickson Warden, the escapee from tho Mt. Eden Gaol, was brought up on charges of theft from dwelling houses. The charges were that on October 13, 1919, he stole from the dwelling house of .John Donaldson, of 26 Edinburgh Street, Lower Ricearton, articles of jewellery and a sum of money of a total value of £l4 19/ C; and that on the same date he stole money and goods (including a revolver) of a total value of £.lB 14/6 from the house of George Albert Aldridge, of 56 Maitai Street, Lower Riccarton. Alternative charges of receiving the stolen articles were preferred against the accused, who was not represented by counsel. Hannah W. Donaldson, wife of John Donaldson, gave formal evidence identifying certain of the stolen articles. Asked if he had any questions to put, Warden said that Mr W. J. Hunter was supposed to have appeared for him. In the Lower Court Mr Hunter had instructed him to plead not guilty, and reserve his defence. His Honour said he knew nothing about that. The case would have to go on. (Proceeding.)