SUPREME COURT SITTINGS,

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 237, 30 June 1908, Page 3

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS,

(BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.') | . New Plymouth, Juno 29. The Supremo Court opened this morning before Mr. Justico Edwards. Harry Willis,, alias Walker, alias Withers, for obtaining money ,by false pretences, received three years with hard labour on each of six charges, sentences to be concurrent. He was also declared an habitual criminal. William Marshall, for perjury, received three months, and John Carson, with several aliases, for breaking and entering, was also sentenoed to three years.. ' In tho Suprome Court this morning Mr. Weston asked Mr. Justice Edwards if, for the convenience of tho lernl profession and the public, he could fix tho order in which the business before the court would bo taken. His Honour replied that tho business; must go in tho order in which it was set down. Ho would bo only too glad to help counsel and the_ public if he could, but his time was limited. His own convenience .was never considered. After finishing the sitting at Auckland, on Saturday he had to leave on Sunday for New Plymouth. His Honour added that lie wished to leave New on Thursday, if possible, or Friday at latest, as he was due in Wellington ; on. Saturday to attend the Court of Appeal. Mr. Weston said he was aware that owing to tho scandalous undjrmanning and overworking of tho Supreme Court bench his Honour's time was very limited.

Tteginald Surrey, charged with the theft of a; steer, was acquitted, the jury intimating that they had no desire to call oil the defence. This completed the, criminal business. At the conclusion of the last case there was a demonstration in court, brisk applause testifying to tho popularity of the jury's verdict. The judge called loudly to the constables to bring tho offenders beforo him, and a well-known Mokau settler was marched up and summarily fined forty shillings, which was promptly paid.

Dunedin, Juno 29. In tho Supreme Court to-day Judgo Williams gavo judgment in the case of Mrs. Paterson v. W. J. Goro and Ethel De Costa, executors of tho estate of Mrs. Farrell. Plaintiff and Mrs. Farrell (now dead) wero friends, and plaintiff let-to'the lattor tho Ocean Beach Hjotel. Mrs. De Costa (then Miss Benjamin) drew up tho lease, which was read ;to plaintiff. Mrs. 1 Farrell' died, and plaintifi understood the leaso was to expire at death practically; Sho now sought for possession. Tho question was whether plaintiff understood the_ terms of tho leaso. Judgment was now given for defendants with costs on tho middlo scale.