THE COURTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16211, 14 May 1918, Page 4

THE COURTS.

SUPREME COURT.

(Before his Honour Mr Justice

Herdman.)

The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court opened yesterday. Mr b. G. Ravmond, K.C., prosecuted on behalf of the Crown. His Honour, in his charge to the Grand Jury (of which Mr H. J. Otley was foreman), said that it was with some satisfaction he announced that during the past three months the amount of crime in the Canterbury district had been exceedingly light. There were five charges against four persons, and he thought the jury would find that the facts in each case were simple. True bills were brought in by the Grand Jury in each case.

CHARGE OF RAPE

Thomas Henry Field (Mr Hunter) pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault at Lyttelton on February 18th, but not guilty to a charge of having attempted to commit rape. After hearing the evidence the jury, after a retirement of half an hour, returned with a verdict of guilty.

Sentence was deferred till to-day

ALLEGED THEFT OF POSTAL PACKETS.

John Thomas Rickard (Mr Alpers) pleaded not guilty to charges of having. at Waiau, on December 11th and 12t.1i, 1917, stolen and received (1) a postal packet containing a £1 banknote, two postal notes, one for 5s and the other for 'Js, and two Id stamps, and (2) a postal packet containing two postal notes for £1 each. Outlining the case, Mr Raymond stated that accused was one of several officers employed in the "Waiau Post Oflicc who had been transferred to C'hristchurch a week or so prior to the cashing of the postal notes in Christchurch. The connexion of accused with the postal notes depended on the identity of the handwriting of accused and that of the signatures on the postal notes.

After a retirement of a quarter of an hour the .jury brought in a verdict of not guilty, and the accused was discharged.

Tiic Court rose till 10 a.m. to-dav,

JUDGMENTS,

Iu the application, in divorce, for alimony in Ethel May Davidson (]\tr Alpersj v. Ernest Walter Ralph Davidson (Mr fires son), his Honour ordered respondent to pay £2 per week towards the support of his wife and child. Petitioner was allowed £0 5s costs and disbursements.

In the appeal case, Joseph Clarke, commission agent. Christchurch (Mr A 1 pers) v. "William Carrick Wedderspoon (Mr Gresson). his Honour considered that the appeal should be dismissed. The Magistrate in effect found that the plaintiff had failed to prove his case, and his Honour -was not prepared to hold that he was wrong in taking that view. The appeal was dismissed, with costs £7 7 S and disbursements. MAGISTERIAL. (Before .Mr T. A. B. Bailor, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. A first offender, for drunkenness, was fined or, in default 24 hours' imprisonment. CIVIL BUSINESS. Judgment by default was ;iwarded plaintiff in each of the following cases:—H. Matson and Co. v. P. Eden, £6 3s Gd; P. and D. Duncan, Ltd. v. R. Whitehead, IBs 6d; D. H. Brown and Son v. A. C. Street, 17s (costs only); Beath and Co., Ltd. v. George Henry Hall, £2 JOs; J. Walsh 1 V. A. Snicer, £1. In the case of John Peter Quin v. Frederick Fletcher, judgment for plaintiff by default was given for £3 7s Gd, and possession of a horse was ordered to be given him on or before 3fay lGth.