CRIMES AND OFFENCES

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16310, 11 August 1917, Page 2

CRIMES AND OFFENCES

UNUSUAL DEFENCE.

AGAINST CHARGE OF THEFT. Per Pkess Association. WELLINGTON, August 10. At the Supremo Court an ex-Civil Herbert Eaton Radcliffe, was charged with having on 6th September, 1916, stolen £l5O and on a later date £35 Is lOd, the property of the New Zealand Government. In opening for the defence Mr Wilford pointed out accused's good financial position. He claimed that when Jtadcliffe did the acts for which, he was being tried he iiad no criminal intention, and owing to disease h© was not capable of forming a criminal intention. Mr Justice Hosking, in summing up, said it had been suggested that disease had a considerable bearing upon the question of intent, but the medical evidence seemed to fall very far short of what the Court was led to expect from the opening address of counsel for the defence. The fact that accused was not in want of money made it more, difficult to account for his act. Tlio jury retired at 3.15 p.m. and at 8.10 reported a disagreement. His Honour ordered a new trial on Thursday next. Accused was released on bail. CHRISTCHURCH CHLOROFORM CASE. THE ACCUSED SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT. CHRISTCHURCFI, Aug. 10. In the Supreme Court to-day William Kinnaird and Robert Erwin Meachlem were sentenced to three years' imprisonment each on a charge of having with intent to commit a crime _ paused Andrew Rollo Guild, and Enid Guild, to be affected by chloroform in a local hotel. Beth men had long lists of previous convictions, his Honour, Sir John Denniston said that they were dangerous diameters who wpit, nliont with lethal weapons like a Colt's automatic revolver.