SUPREME COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6128, 15 March 1898, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

— » ("Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, March 14. At the criminal, sessions Mrs Mary Hall pleaded guilty to a charge of the theft of .£IOO worth of jewellery, and on the charge of forgery in conjunction with the lad William John M'Donald, pleaded guilty, but the male prisoner pleaded not guilty. No evidence was offered against M'Donald, and he was discharged. Several witnesses were called, from whose statements it appeared that Mrs Hall had drawn her husband's money out of the bank to the extent of .£3OO, and the forgery consisted of making false entries in the bank-book to make it appear that the money was still in the bank. The prisoner stated that her husband, who was away from home at times, had given her a general, order to draw money out of the bank. She. drew a lot, and, as he was a passionate man, she did not like to tell him, and got the boy to alter the figures. Nathaniel Hall, the husband, stated in answer to questions from the Bench that he had been working in the King Country, and had sent money down to his wife, though he knew it was not sufficient to keep her as she should be kept. He would be much obliged to his Honor if he could grant prisoner probation. His Honor said he thought it was a case for probation. He should treat the two offences as though they were one, and should admit prisoner to probation for twelve months. HOKITIKA, March 15. At the Supreme Court to-day, in the civil case Ah Chum v. Stratford, a claim for damages for illegal imprisonment, the jury returned a verdict for £53 damages, but some law points have yet to be argued. The libel case, Bell v. Sheedy (a Greymoutli case), is proceeding this afternoon. The session will probably close to-night.