THE HALL-HOUSTON CASE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3747, 5 October 1886, Page 3

THE HALL-HOUSTON CASE.

It was arranged that tho Grand Jury stall consider the bills m the Hall and Houston case 'on Friday. In bis charge, the Judge eaid that tho Justices at Timaru had acted Tery properly m committing Hall and Houston for trial m Christcburch, so that certain objections arising from local prejudices and feelings might be removed. DnNEDtw, Oct. 4. The Grand Jury threw out the bills against John Campboll for sheep-stealing, and Patrick Cavanogh for pa3sing base coin. The charge to the Grand Jury wa» merely formal. . Henry Percy Fisher, who was convicted by the Supreme Conrt on two chnrges, managed to escape conviction on either by a very clever triok. When waiting m the cell below the court he managed to change coats with another prisoner, and on a witness against him swearing positively that he recognised Fisher by the clothing, prisoner told the court what he had done, and getting his own coat, showed it was of an entirely different cut. Prisoner showed great volubility, and wanted to contend that the articles fauud on him were picked up, having probably been taken by another person, as probably there were as many thieves among the upper as among the lower classes. At the Supreme Court John Pomeroy was found guilty of forging and uttering and •entenco deferred. John Stuart, charged with, obtaining money under false pretences, was acquitted. Henry Percy Fißher, who has made himself notorious, was acquitted on one chargo of larceny but found guilty on two others and sentenced to three years.