The Taranaki Herald contains a full account of the Supreme Court Sittings, from which the following extracts are made :—“ The Criminal Sitting of the Supreme Court was opened on Monday) the 7th May, in the Court-room, at the Taranaki Institute. At half-past ten o’clock his Honor, Mr Justice Gillies, entered the Court and took his seat upon the Bench, and after congratulating the Grand Jury on the scarcity of litigation and serious crimes, said there was but one prisoner for trial, against whom there wore three charges of embezzlement. The law on the subject was explained when the Crown Prosecutor (Mr A. Standish) presented three indictments containing throe counts each against Edward Charles Meredith, late Clerk to the Bench at Carlyle, for embezzlement. The offence and punishment are contained in the 70th section of “The Larceny Act, 18G7,” and a person found guilty under this section renders himself liable to 14 years penal servitude. The Grand Jury found True Bills upon the three indictments. Edward Charles Meredith, on being placed in the box, pleaded Not Guilty. Mr Hammerton appeared for the prisoner. The jury were empannclled. —The indictment charged the prisoner with embezzling suitors’ moneys —in the first count, to the amount of 17s lid ; in the second, £1 ; and in the third, £3 6s. The Crown Prosecutor then called the following witnesses ; —Louisa Smith, shopkeeper, Hawera ; James carter, Kelemarae ; George Victor Bate, agent Bank New South Wales, at Hawera ; Henry Ferdinand Turner, late Resident Magistrate for upper district of Upper Wanganui ; William James Clerk of Resident Magistrate’s Court, Wel lington ; William Connolly, bailiff, Resi dent Magistrate’s Court, Carlyle ; Gideon Inkster, Hawera ; Patrick B. Cahill, Ser geant A.0., Hawera ; Jamas Ball, fanner, Kakaramea ; F. J, Stewart, Hawera; and Frederick Woller, Patea. —After evidence had been taken, the prisoner’s Counsel addressed the jury.—The Crown Prosecu tor did not reply.—His Honor having summed up, the jury retired for about three-quarters of an hour, and returned with a verdict of not guilty on the first count, and guilty on the second and third counts of the indictment, and recommended the prisoner to mercy. The Crown Pro secutor entered a nolle prosequi in respect of the other two indictments. His Honor sentenced the prisoner to two years’ im prisonment with hard labour.
