SUPREME COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 110, 10 May 1902, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

ALLEGED CATTLE STEALING,

The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were continued yesterday afternoon, Jpefore His Honor Mr Justice Conolly. The whole of the afternoon and a portion of this morning was occupied in hearing evidence for the prosecution of two natives, Ipu Hohaia and Mehaka Hohaia, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing a heifer, at Terana, in the Hokianga district, the property of William Archibam. The Hon. J. A. Tole conducted the prosecution. At the conclusion of the evidence for the prosecution, Mr Tole said there was practically no evidence against Mehaka, and the evidence against was so slight that he would ask His Honor to direct the jury to return a verdict of not guilty. His Honor directed the jury as requested, and the prisoners were acquitted and discharged. ALLEGED ASSAULT. A young man named Alfred Duelpleaded not guilty to a charge that on February 2, 1902. at Auckland, he , assaulted.Elizabeth Ada Cox so as to cause her actual bodily harm. The Hon. J.. A. Tole, Crown Solicitor,' prosecuted, and Mr J. It. Beed appeared for the prisoner. In stating the case Mr Tole said that prior to the assault accused had been living with the woman as Mrs Duck for three years in Regent-street, Newton. He had a coal yard in Aber-crombie-street, and on February 7th the woman went with a friend to the yard. She made reference to something which evidently annoyed prisoner, who swore at her' and struck her a blow in the face. He then dragged her by the hair __;d threw her into the street. In the souffle accused had a knife in his hand, which caused her to bleed profusely. She was badly bruised, wcl sustained' a severe abrasion on the thigh. When charged with the assault accused said the injuries were caused by the woman falling against some barbed wire, but in reality he had thrown her there. Several" witnesses were called in support of the case. (Proceeding.)