SUPREME COURT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13448, 21 November 1907, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Nov. 20. At the Court, Alexander Pat" efson, charged with breaches of the Bankruptcy Act, and found guilty on on* count, was brought- Tip for sentence.. Mr Justice Denniston. said -Ims would treat accused' as a, mail ipersonally honest. , Addressing Patterson his Honour said: "Your' conduct has, been reckless Jai the extreme. You must ha.ve known, at + hV. time;you'entered- into possession of this large quantity of goods m your hist year's trading' that you '■' were absolutely in tin) hands of your creditors and carrying ou only. by ' their graee.. You never "At anytime took steps to really know your position. It■', is impossible to- doubt, fro my mind, that the reason waisi that you would not venture to do so. I believe that your not, keeping books was simply a veiry natural desire to .«hirk realising your position. It seems to me that you preferred l to plunge for that year,;with the result we have heard. I must do my ditty and jenteince you to a term of imprisonment.; Following precedent T sentence you to six months, and in view, of the. fact thnihyou haw not be-en guilty of personal fraud, I shall not inflict hard labour." Mr Reed asked Ihat prisoner, be. treated-as a firstclass iiusdemeariant', which indulgence his Honour granted; adding that he wanted to give prisoner'eveiy indulgence! consistent with his views.' Regarding' the issues on which the jury failed to, agree, Mr .Tote, Crown Prosecutor, announced liis intention of applying to the AttorneyOeneral for a nolle prosequi. .'■'',,. Nov. 20. ; At the Supreme Court to-day, Robert Humphries,. 63 years of age, was Sentenced to three years' inipriso'hm'ent on a. charge of indecent 'aissault on aMittle girl. Frederick Nicolaus was found ; guilty of forging and uttering and obtaining goods by lake pretences. He was till to-morrow for sentence. Eiwily Byland', -a domestic servant, charged with forging the nam© of her employer ton cheque for £2 Ids', was found not guilty. CHRISTCHURCH. Nov. 20. At the Supreme Court to-day, John Ire - son and Grace Hutcheson were, jointly charged with forgery- of a promissory note for £24, purnorti'ng* to lw signed by 'Daniel Hutfliesoti, the" lrasband of the female houw andi-Mie' ft male" accused sent him to pay a'bill of £2 10s at Kesrteven's: a. money lender. Ireson came back saying she would have- to sign a bill of sale, which she thought was a receipt. -She Hguifd. but. got no money. Tty jury found a verdict of. guilty a.g;iin:*t Iresbii, who :was ! .'sentenced' to nine-' months 1 impi''.soiinituti. Robert O'CaHaghan was acquitted on ia charge of arson. William Fred Bor3nnd convicted of entering with' intent/ to) crime was ordered to come up for sen-, tence when called upon. ' ;i ;