SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13748, 10 September 1908, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

m . - Per Press Association. PALMERSTON N., Sept. 9. At the Supreme Court to-day, John Wilier pleaded not guilty of theft of hemp at Foxton. Evidence for the Crown was that accused, who was employed in tho New Zealand Shipping Company's store at Foxton, had removed five bales of hemp from the store, replacing them with bales of damaged hemp. Subsequently he had endeavoured to dispose of the stolen hemp to millers in the locality. Accused stated lie was a casual hand at the .stoic, v.Mere one Reid was foreman. The latter asked him to soil some hemp for him, aud promised him £1 per bale for selling it. He had not known the hemp was stolen. Tho jury returned a verdict- of not guilty, and accused was discharged. Charles McLennan pleaded not guilty to breaking and entering the Central Hotel. Evidence for the Crown showed accused had entered the, hotel by /the firo escape during the evening of the sth inst. He was found in a bedroom occupied by a hotel employee. Accused pleaded drunkenness, but His Honour said he had hoard of a drunken man falling downstairs, but had never before heard of one falling upstairs. The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of guilty, and accused, against whom were twelve previous convictions, was sentenced to three years' hard labour.