SUPREME COURT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 260, 1 November 1929, Page 11

SUPREME COURT

PALMERSTON SESSIONS. [ Per Press Association. ] PALMERSTON N., Oct. 31. The hearing in the Supreme Court of the case of Norman Alfred Miller, farmer, Rangiwahia, who was charged with the theft of two sheep, was concluded this morning. The jury was out for an hour and a-half, and returned a verdict of not guilty. WELLINGTON SESSIONS WELLINGTON, Oct. 31. Having pleaded guilty to three charges of assault on males Leonard Hollobon was sentenced by the Chief Justice to five years’ reformative detention on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. Norris Frank Davey was found guilty with a strong recommendation to mercy of assault on a male. He was ordered to come up for sentence within two years. The trial of Eilers and Thomas in the Supreme Court on charges of forgery and attempting uttering of a motor driver’s license ended abruptly, both withdrawing their defence and pleading guilty. Counsel said that the facts outlined by the Crown were never intended to be denied by Eilers, who had been moved to defend the case, firstly, that he might not lose his position with the City Council, and secondly that the stigma of common forgery might not rest on him. His Honor said that the men were not criminals. No one' was defrauded, Thomas’ idea being that the license should be so dated that he could take it to the police and it would appear that it had been issued prior to his having been accosted by a constable. His Honor took the course of fining each £2 and ordering them to pay the costs of the prosecution, £lO 6s. He said that seeing that Eiler’s offence was really a matter of good nature, the Corporation would b€ amply justified in not visiting the offence with the punishment of dismissal.