(Per Press Association.)

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13428, 20 March 1907, Page 7

(Per Press Association.)

NELSON,. March 19. The Supreme Court sessions opened this morning, when Mr Justice Den11 i stem again congratulated the district on the comparative absence of crime. John William Hawkes was found guilty of assaulting a child) but with a strpng recommendation to mercy. The Judge concurred with the jury, and deferred sentence. »

The trial of William ' Bettany, the younger, charged with converting to his- own use a sum of £270 belonging to the estate of the late William Wilkie, of w"hiclf accused was a trustee, has commenced.

.; • '„ NAPIER, March. "19. At the' Supreme' Court Stella Marsden and Henry Tate, who both pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from the person, were sentenced to six and three months respectively, j A verdict of not guHlty was Teturned in the cases of Mary. Ann Vocasivich, charged with concealment of birth, and Thomas Todd, carnally' knowing. < t Michael Barry; who had pleaded guilty on the previous day to a charge, of theft, was admitted to probation for two years. - ....... NELSON, March ?0. . At the Supreme: Co r urti Johii William ..Hawkesr^onvicted d£ indecent assault on a girl under eight years of age^; was admitted tCu probation . ipr twelve months, on ,', the : of thirty-six years' blameless residence. -The Judge that .the offence was nothing more than one of impropriety, and intimated that offences against women and children must be 'closely watched and severely dealt with.