DISTRICT COURT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10321, 25 April 1901, Page 2

DISTRICT COURT.

WEDNESDAY, 24th APRIL. (Before His Honor Mr District Judge Kettle).

CRIMINAL BUSINESS.

THEFT, Tlie charges against A. P. Wilson and W. Trafford, were further heard yesterday afternoon, and after retirement for about half an hour, the jury returned to Court with a verdict of not guilty in the case" of Wilson and guilty of receiving stolen goods in the case of Traffordi INDECENT ASSAULT. Walter William Bates was charged with having on March. 25th indecently assaulted a girl under the ago of 16 years, viz., four years. Mr Cony appeared for the accused, who pleaded guilty, and the Court adjourned for the day.

THURSDAY, 25th AJPRIL.

INDECENT ASSAULT^ Walter William Bates was brought up, he having pleaded guilty yesterday afternoon to a charge of indecent assault on a little girl, and was asked if he hai anything to say why the sentence of the Court should not be passed upon him. The prisoner, through hi 3 counsel (Mr Corry), said he wis Sorry for what he had done, and that he was not in his right mind when he committed the offence; that he was under tho influence of drink at the time. His Honor, in addressing the prisoner, remarked on the diabolical nature of tho outrage, and did not believe that drink had anything to do with the commission of the offence. Tho crime was becoming a very common one in the col any, and therefore it wst6 bis painful, but absolutely necessary duly to inflict a substantial penalty. The sentence of tho ' Court was "that prisoner be. incarcerated for seven years, and that he receive two floggings of thirty/, strokes each. RECEIVING STOLEN GOODS. «* William Trafford, found guilty yesterday of {receiving stolen goods, was brought up for sentence. The Probation Officer's report being a favourable one. His Honor stated that under the circumstances, particularly as to prisoner owning up to his participation in tho offence, he had -decided to admit him to probation for 12 calendar months,- on condition that he paid the whole of the costs of the prosecution, also to pay to the native the value (345) of the rum stolen. Oh the application of counselfor the defence (Mr Treadwell) six months were allowed in which to pay the coats, etc., amounting to JBIB 10s. This concluded the criminal business, and the Court adjourned until 2 p.m., when bankruptcy business was to. be tnken.

The elderly man, referred to in our columns fi day or two ago in connection with the "imposing" cases, was before Mr Kettle this morning. His name was Maurice O'Connor alias Win. Dabson alias Wm Manning and he was charged on two informations, the first with having obtained about April Ist last, at the Upper Hutt, the sum of £2 from John Solomans by means of false representations; the second with having on April sth last at Parapara endeavoured by false representations to impose upon Alfred Connor with a view to obtaining money from 'him. Accused 'pleaded guilty. Mr Kettle, taking into consideration tho man's age — 73 years — and the fact that he was suffering from rheumatism sentenced him to one month's imprisonment without hard labour on the first charge and deferred sentence on the second, intimating to accused that, on the expiration of the month's imprisonment, he would probably try and get hini admitted to the Old Men's Home.