THIS DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4880, 20 February 1894, Page 3

THIS DAY.

FALSE PRETENCES. j James Purvis, who pleaded guilty yesterday to false pretences, was brought up for sentence. j His Honor Baid that the Probation ' Officer's report was not satisfactory, and j showed that this was not a case for pro- 1 bation. Purvis was the same youth who I had been arrested in Invercargill under I a false name, and in connection with a j charge preferred by a publican, which i charge had turned out to be correct. Pro- ! bation in Buch a case could not be allowed, '■ but his Honor would only pass a light j sentence in the hope that it would lead to ! the youth's reformation in the matter of ; drinking. He would ba sentenced to three j months' hard labour. j PBOBATION. j William Gregory Ballantyne, who 1 pleaded guilty yesterday to a oharge of forgery and uttering, was brought up for sentence. Mr Stringer Baid tbat the brother of the accused (who had previously offered to take him under his care if admitted to probation) now wrote that he withdrew that Offer, as he could not receive his brother. ! His Honor said that, having said yesterday he should admit the prisoner to probation, he would not withdraw it, although then it had been mentioned that the brother would take him. However, the prisoner's previous good character would be taken into consideration, and the provisions of the Probation Act would be applied. The probationer had to remember that, if he disregarded th 9 leniency shown and committed any other crime, the present conviction would add considerably to the severity of any future sentence. His Honor had a great disinclination to' grant probation after a conviction for forgery and uttering — in fact he thought this waß the first time he had done so— but, as he had made the promise, and accused had passed some time in prison awaiting trial, he would admit him to probation. Had the prisoner started under favourable auspices with a prospect of help, his Honor would have felt bound to add to the conditions of probation the repayment of the money received for the forged cheque. But, aB he was without any means or assistance, his Honor did not feel justified in loading his liberty with Buch restrictions. Mr Stringer spoke of the repayment of the money, and his Honor said that this was another case of money being given in exchange for a cheque without the slightest inquiry, and he thought that the loss should be borne by those who had accepted the cheque. Surely it was not an unreasonable thing to inquire into the validity of a cheque presented by a perfecstranger. The prisoner was admitted to probation for six months, within which time his Honor ordered him to pay M towards the cost of the prosecution. CONSPIKACY. Alfred John Burgess, Matthew James Sherwin and Frederick Jennings were charged with conspiring, together with H. Measday and C. A. Payne, against William Adam Taylor, and by threatening to accuse him of an unnatural offence obtaining .£SO from him. There were three counts of the same charge. Mr Donnelly appeared for the prisoners, and asked bis Honor to allow Burgess to bs tried by himself. His Honor Baid he certainly could not do this. The prisoners were charged with conspiring with each other. He did not think that there was any sort of authority to allow of the prisoners in such a case being tried separately. Mr Donnelly contended that the deposit tions referring to Burgers were different to those dealing with the other prisoners, and to take them together would be embarrassing. There was authority for allowing what he was asking, and he presented it for the consideration of his Honor. Mr Stringer submitted that the case for the prosecution could not go on with the j prisoners separated. ] His Honor said that he would not be justified in granting the application of Mr Donnelly. There were numerous challenges to jurymen on behalf of the prisoners. Mr Stringer opened the case, and said that, in order to substantiate such a charge as that now preferred, he wonld have to prove that two or more persons had conspired together to extort money. Mr Stringer then enteied into the details of the case, and called similar evidence to that already adduced in the lower court. William Adam Taylor, publican at Rangiora; James Goodman, managing clerk for Mr Bruges j Cecil Atkins Payne, Harry Measday and D Stranaghan, were

examined for the prosecution, and Mr Donnelly opened the defence. (Left sitting.) [Peb Pbkßs Association.] INVERCABGILL, Feb. 19. In the Supreme Court, after a trial extending over four days, John Punton Weir, a married man, between, forty and fifty years of age, was acquitted on the charge of an attempted criminal assault on a girl of thirteen years. The jury was only a few minutes considering the verdict. The criminal sessions will probably close to-morrow.