SUPREME COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11000, 12 February 1914, Page 6

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SITTING. The criminal sitting of the Supreme Court was continued to-day, before Sir Justice Denniston. Mr H. H. Ostler conducted the cases fju- -the Crown. ... ALLEGED THEFT. Tho trial was continued of'. W. H. Clement (Mi Donnelly), charged with the theft of a magneto, valued at £3, the property of Daniel Coleman. The "whole morning was occupied _by the address of counsel, except for a short interval during which Clement was recalled to give evidence. His Honor, in summing up after luncheon, commented on the fact that seven or eight hours had been largely taken up in details entirely unnecessary and irrelevant-. The jury retired at 2.45 p.m. After half an hour's retirement the jury found a verdict of "Not guilt} - " and Clement was discharged. FORGERY ADMITTED. Joseph M'Glintock, who had pleaded not guilty in the lower Court to a charge, of forging *a cheque at Christchurch for £lB 10s in the name of James Arthur Pawsqn, and of attempting to utter it, pleaded guilty to the indictment. Mr Hunt said that the prisoner had not been concerned in any case since 1905. There had only been one forgery attempted and no money had been obtained on it. Mr Ostler said that nothing was known about the accused, and „t/ie police thought that he was menially weak, m that reformative treatment would l)e preferable. His Honor said that he would gi\-a the prisoner probation for one year. Misbehaviour during the year would entail punishment for the present offence, and any subsequent offence would entail punishment as a criminal.