SUPREME COURT.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15075, 19 May 1919, Page 6

SUPREME COURT.

(United Pkess Association.)

Wellington, May 17. The following sentences were imposed by the Chief Justice in the. Supreme Court this morning:— Charles Edward Rossiter Ruddick, theft of a motor car, 12 months' imprisonment on each of two charges. ■ William Bannerman Rogers, three years' reformative treatment for indecent assault. William Henry Aspinall, three years reformative treatment for indecent assault. Reginald Joseph Devonshire, .a bank clerk, 18 months' reformative treatment for theft of bank moneys. Lawrence John Maloney, two years' imprisonment for breaking, entering, and theft. . John James Joseph Lee, five years' reformative treatment for wounding his wife. Christian Henry Jensen, 12 months for assault. . Jean Collyns, two and a half years for conspiring to procure abortion. Alice Scoble, three years for procuring abortion and for conspiring to procure abortion. Comment upon the jury's finding in a recent case was made by the Chief Justice when Arthur James Ford appeared for sentence on a charge of theft. Ford pleaded guilty tlrs week to stealing certain articles from the Defence Stores, but Thomas Evans, who was charged with him. denied the charge, and was found .not guilty by the jury. Sir Robert Stout said that in his opinion Ford Had spoken the truth wEen he gave his evidence at the trial against Evans, Sut apparently the jury, had not believed. hjm. Personally he^believed that Evans knew perfectly'well that Ford left the1 store, where .both were nightwatchmen, I with.,-stone . of. the stolen goods: In tho circumstances he felt it would be an injustice to imprison Ford while tlie other man escaped. Therefore Ford would be admitted to probation for two months..