SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 740, 12 February 1910, Page 10

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

' -;.;. 1 ' -i- ... (By. Oorreßpondcnt.) ■. . Palmerston, February 11. ■>.•» The. Palriierstori! North sittings. of .' the Supremo: Court'.coinmehced to-day, .beforei Mr."Justice v'Chapmari'. His Honour, in addressing, the jrarid, jury, said ; 'that. at; the "'present sittings; ..there- were fourteen. . bills' to' be'' conSideredTrnot a" very : largo number," perhaps, for. such "a'-yery' popii-' ! lous district,' but rather more tlian he had bec-n accustomed. to at Palriierstori during the. last, few years. He regTetted 'that,there was. a . large ' proportion of' sexual- cases, cases' of; improper; assault on .'young .girls,, and-.actions' which at..'the very. least woro inclined to corrupt the. morals.;bf the' young.' His Honour, then; proceeded to review, the various bills to be considered, by. the grand, jury'.True bills' were , found, in the;; against Thos'. PowellVand: V-;- E.';! J; Lower,.,, both ■for alleged ,6f ..illegal ;instru-. .'merits;. Frederick Gillett,, alleged'criminal assault; Claude':Rotter,;-. alleged ; perjury; K -W. Riley l 'and; C.' Cannon/, alleged: break-., ing and entering ;'Boland Hayes arid William' Smith, alleged perjury; Archibald . Muir, alleged theft; Claude Ifetter, alleged assault 1 and robbery; A. Connolly,; alleged criminal- assault j iXeo Boranoff,.. /alleged, attempted: - serious offence; : W. B. V. Pearce,- alleged (theft. ' Tho only ciiso heard' was', that '.against E.".'Ji 'Lewer; - for tho - alleged, supplying, of-illegals insteu-; .nionts. Accused pleaded, iiot guilty.'. Mr. ; Loiighnan/prosecuted,; and' Mr;' Cooperdefended; A .quantity of-1 evidence 1 was taken.' The 1 jury : returned- a verdict of not' guilty.' ,-V'" ' ..'- r '. ' 1 ';

AT AUCKLAND. (By ''Association.) Auckland, February 11. -. In the • Supreme Court' to-day ': Gfeorgo ■ Coilop ' Peronue, charged with • stealing. ,£2l, the 'property of-Thomas P. .Gray,/at Kaukapakapa, was found,not' guilty,' and discharged. ■ ■".- ■' •'? Johii.'Bell, .75-years of, age, l an- ; inmate of the' Old.■■ Men's -: Home at Tararu, Thames,! was tharged with having -, assaulted ■• William ■ 13urke, so as- to do/him ■actual; bodily' harm. .-' .The jury, after :.a . sh.irt- retirement, /brought.: in a' verdict of not guilty, on. the ground, of insanity at- tlie time ..the - offence-:was committed.. His -Honour - ordered prisoner-'to lie kept in strict custody in the. AvondataAsylum during tho plensuro . of. .tho. ; 'Miiiister. for Internal Alf airs. ; V ■ Henry Hammond was : found, guilty . of opeiling a letter, without authority; and Horaco Wilson . was found -: guilty--* of.- assaulting '-two, little' girls 'at Port Hid Honour deferred.,; sentence .till ■, to-; morrow.. .- ■■■■>■.