Auckland Supreme Court.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8607, 11 March 1897, Page 2

Auckland Supreme Court.

(BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

Auckland, March 9,

A*; the Supreme Court Michael O'Brien, an elderly man, indicted on the charge of having on November 29 bh, at Paeroa, stolen the sum of £5 from George Mason, pleaded nob guilty, and asked His Honor that the hearing of the case be adjourned, to enable him to get a reply to a letter forwarded to Paeroa in connection with the case. His Honor acceded to the request, and intimated that the case would not be called on till to-mcrrow. J, Dell otherwise known as Thomas Kenny, charged with, on the Bth day of December, at Paeroa, having in his possession without lawful excuse certain housebreakiug implements, pleaded not guilty, bub after hearing considerable evidence the jury decided otherwise. On being asked why the sentence of the Court should not be passed upon him, the prisoner replied that it was the biggest bit of evidence put together that he had seen in his life. Threeparts of the evidence consisted of perjury.—His Honor in passing sentence said he believed the prisoner was one of the very worst characters he had ever dealt with—a most dangerous character. He was convicted before him a year and a half ago for the very same oftence, viz., of having housebreaking implements in his possession, and he was then sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, so that he was out of prison but a very short time when he started carrying on the same old game, going to a place where apparently he had nothing to do, and being found with housebreaking implements in his possession. He (His Honor) would pass the heaviest sentence upon him that the law would allow, namely, three years' imprisonment with hard labor. —The prisoner made an effort to speak, but was removed from the dock by the warders. Before descending the stairs, however, he yelled out, " I'll do it on the top of my—head, you ." For some minutes after prisoner went below, a noise as of someone banging against a door and being very violent was distinctly audible in the Court.

Later. Wilful Damage to Property.— Arthui Allen, alias Charles Higgs, pleaded guilty to having wilfully broken two glass windows in the United Serrice Hotel.—His Honor sentenced the accused to three months' with hard labor, and ordered him to pay within the three months the costs of the prosecution, and £15 compensation to the owners of the property damaged.

Alleged House-Stealing. — Anterow Jensen, Richard Roach, and Sarah Harper, were charged with having on January 2nd at Tauranga stolen a mare, the property of John Mclntosh Boberts The three prisoners (who were not represented by counsel) pleaded not guilty.—After hearing the evidence, His Honor said there was no evidence to show that she intended to deprive Colonel Roberts permanently of the horse.—The jury retired at 3.45, and returned at 4.55 with a verdict of "not guilty" in the case of each of the prisoners. The three prisoners were then discharged.

Discharged.—Jeremiah Whangape, who was charged with having wilfully set fire to the whare of another native, and in respect to whom the Grand Jury yesterday brought in a "no bill," was brought forward this morning and discharged. Arsox.—Frank Farkes, charged with having wilfully set fire to the building formerly known as McKae's IJotel, which was partially destroyed by the eruption of Tarawera, pleaded

guilty.—Mr Button appeared for the prisoner, . and pointed out that the act Avas one of pure thoughtlessness, and not of maliciousness.. As soon as the prisoner found that a value had been placed on the property he went in the vnost ingenuous manner to the police and admitted that he had done it. Up till then there Ayas not the slightest evidence against him.—lJis Honor admitted the accused to probation for six mouths, and ordered him to pay £5 towards the cost of the prosecution Avithin that time.

111-treatment or a Child. —Cora Neill, a young woman who appeared in the dock bearing a child in her arms, pleaded guilty to having in August, 1895, and January 20th, 1896, at Dargaville, assaulted one Thomas Bowdeu, so as to cause actual bodily harm.—Mr Napier appeared for the prisoner, and spoke in extenuation of the crime. He stated that on the death of her sister-in-law, the prisoner received a boy into her charge to take care of him for the father, who resided in Auckland. It appeared that the prisoner afterwards lost control of her temper, aud gave way to outbursts of violence when the boy became uujuly.—After hearing the evidence, His Honor, addressing the prisoner, said this was a shockingly bad case. He could hardly imagine a [ woman with children of her qwu could : be so brutal as to $-use tl^s child in j the way she had done. There was no ! doubt in his mind tfyat all the injuries which really endangered his life were caused by her. He would deal with her case as he did with another woman who was before him some years ago, but whose conduct, though it was bad enough, was not quite so bad as hers. The sentence of the Court'wee that she be imprisoned and kept to hard ' labor for two years. On the prisoner

hearing the sentence, she fainted away | and had to be carried out of Court.— | The evidence showed that the boy's nose had been broken, and that he had been disfigured for life. Forgery.—Ngapuhi Renata, alias Shortland Benata, a young Maori, was charged with having on December 24, at Taheke, forged a certain document i purporting to be a cheque for the! payment of £10 10s. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and also to a second charge of forging a cheque for £7 10s. His Honor said tha accused and the Maoris associated with him seemed to be very respectable. This being his first offence he would be admitted to probation for twelve months. Within six mon'hs ho would have to make restitution of the money, and pay £10 towards the cost of the prosecution.