SUPREME COURT.

Wellington Independent, Issue 2178, 11 March 1865, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

CEIMINAL SITTINGS. The usual Criminal' Sittings of the Supreme Court, were held before Mr Justic Johnston, on the Ist and 2nd of March. The following is a list of the cases tried : — John Kelly was charged with breaking into the shop of Mr Lamont, a tobacconist, at Wanganui. The Jury returned a verdict of " Guilty." He was then sentenced to undergo two years imprisonment, with hard labor. John Thompson was indicted for an attempt to set fire to a stable belonging to Mr Thomas Kells of Wanganui, on the sth of February. Guilty : Sentence, two years' imprisonment with hard labor. William Payne was indicted for feloniously selling some cloth entrusted to him by Messrs G. Pickett & Co. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. George Angell was indicted with having set fire to a dwelling-house, at Johnsonville, on the 14th December last, such house at the time having some persons in it. The jury, after much deliberation, returned a verdict of " Guilty ;" and his Honor recorded sentence of death against the prisoner. George Henry Kny vett was charged with stealing a horse, the property of a native named Wata, residing -near Wanganui. The evidence went to prove that the prisoner failing in making arrangements to hire a horse from the native Wata, on which to rideto Wanganui fromPakaraka, stole amare, rode in to Wanganui, and there sold her for £5, to a man of the name of Davidson. Mr Davidson, who was called into Court, stated on oath that, being partially blind, he could not identify the prisoner. A very lengthy discussion now took place as to whether the term horse was generic or specific. Mrßorlase, for the prisoner, urged there was a wrong indictment, and his Honor agreeing with him, put the case to the jury, reserving his decision. The jury returned a verdict of " Guilty of stealing a mare, but not guilty of stealing a horse." Admitted to bail, himself at £100, and two sureties at £250 each, to appear when caeled for judgment. William Frank Montague Warden was charged with obtaining money under false pretences, from Mr Howe, of Wanganui, Accused is a gentlemanly looking young man, and we believe is well connected. The jury found the prisoner not guilty. CONCEALMENT OF BIETH. Eliza Hamling and Mary Ann Griffiths, alias Nodder, were charged — the former with concealment of birth, the latter with aiding and abetting. The jury gave in a verdict of " guilty"of thecrime ; andhis Honor, after informingthom of the narrow escapethey had had of being indicted for theheinouscrimeof murder, passed sentence, committing them each to gaol for the space of two years John and Lucy Slarks, an aged couple, were charged with keeping a house of illfame. The jury returned a verdict of " Guilty," and his honor's sentence was, that John Slarks be imprisoned for two years, and Lucy Slarks for eighteen months with hard labor. Aretopa, an aboriginal native of New Zealand, was charged with having on the 17th day of November, 1864, at Rangitikei, when a post office carrier, taken away a letter "adi dressed to Messrs Owen, of Wellington, confided to his care ; secondly, with having opened and abstracted therefrom a cheque for £50, drawn by Mr Donald Fraser, of \ Wanganui, in favor of Owen Bros. A technical point arose as to whether the prisoner was " a post officer" at the time he stole the letter, and the jury having found him guilty, his honor, after commenting strongly on the extreme impropriety of the postal authorities entrusting the letters of the community to any contractor who might take them, ordered the prisoner to find bail in two sureties of £200 each, and himself in £100, or be imprisoned until the decision of the Court of Appeal. Thomas Abbott stood charged with embezzling the monies of one Eevel of Kai Iwi, near Wanganui, sometime between October and November. The jury found the prisonot guilty. All the cases on the calendar being disposed of, his Honor left the bench shortly after 6 o'clock, and the criminal sessions were concluded.