NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1310, 13 December 1911, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

1 ID» Telterapb—Preso A«soclnllon.l ♦ PARNELL ORGY. TRIAL OF ANNIE M'CONNELL. Auckland, December 11._ A middle-aged woman named Auuit. M'Connell pleaded "not guilty" at th« criminal sittings, of the Supreme Court this morning, before Mr. Justice Edwards, to charges of having, at Parncll. on Saturday, August 1!), attempted to murder one Thomas Madigan, and also with having wounded the same man with intent to do him grievous bodily harm, and with having caused him actual bodily harm under such circumstances that, if death had ensued, she would have been guilty of manslaughter. Alter evidence had lwen given at length his Honour addressed the jury. He said that it had been shown that these people were together living a disgraceful life, and had quarrelled. Also that, on tho night in question, all of the parlies had been participating in a disgraceful orgy, llio jury were asked to say that tho prisoner was so drunk that she did not know what she was doing. In the faco of this the evidence showed that, when the constable arrived, tho accused, although certainly under the influence ot drink, was sober enough to realise what she had done. "You know, gentlemen," said the Judge, "it is really, good fortune, and not any act on the part of tho prisoner that allows this man to appear hero to-day. All theso peoplo have been' living a life which is a reproach to tho community, Still it would never do to permit tho belief that, unyont, could shoot men who wero living "undesirable lives with undesirablo women." After a retirement of over two hours, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the first two counts, but guiltv on the third count—that of causing actual bodily harm under circumstances which, .if death had occurred, would have rendered the prisoner guilty of manslaughter. Prisoner was unable to attend ■ Court (owing to illness) on the return of the jury, and sentenco was deferred until .Wednesday.

COMPENSATION CLAIM. •Timaru, December 13. - Mr. Justice Denniston and two assessors were occupied yesterday and this morning over a claim by 1), D. Harrison against the Waiinatoi County Council for J22135 compensation for land taken for a. road through his farm, and damage thereby tothe farm. The road is in the Waihoa district. For tho benefit of part of Waikakahi settltement eleven acres wcro taken and valued at ,£3O an acre. Other claims were for loss of water supply and stock shelter, site of farm, severance, loss of privacy, and oxtra cost of working, Tho County Council'had offered first JE500, - thou ,£7lB. The Court awarded .£IOSO and costs.

ANTI-MILITARIST MEETING. Hastings, December 12. Mr. Stevenson,' the speaker at an antv militarist meeting held hero two Sundaysago, at which an unruly section created some disturbance, protests against tho' Press Association message stating that lis escaped fronuthe back-door, and requests the association to publish his version. Ho states he did not escape through the back door, but told the lads following him that if they persisted he would call tho police. This warning failed, and ho went to th* nearest telephone. He then proceeded home unmolested. A SCHOLARSHIP. Blenheim, December 12. Under tho will of the late Alexander Young, of Blenheim, ,£2OO was -be-' lueathed to the Marlborough Hiijh School to found a. scholarship for sons of manual labourers earning not more than £125 a ycaT. THE KINGSLAND CASE. Auckland, December 12. In the Sunremo Court, John Brooks convicted of "having attempted to suborn two witnesses in the Kingsland manslaughter case, was fined £'25, or three montai J '"imprisoninent. •:' AFTER TEN YEARS. , Napier, December 12. A man name! Arthur Roland Hill, who. has been wanted by tho police for tho last ten or eleven years, was arrested at Puketapu yesterday. He is accused of having, at Asbburton, on August i, 1000, broken into and entered tho premises of J. Watson, painter and decorator, of that town. PERJURY. Auckland, December 12. Charles Win. Boakes, having been convicted of perjury in connection with a maintenance case heard in the Magistrate's Court, at-the conclusion of a further trial ordered by tho Court of Apical, was brought before Mr. Justice-. Fxlwards at the Supreme Court this morning and sentenced to six months with hard labour. DIVORCE CASE. Nelson, December 11. In the Supremo Court, in divorce, a rule nisi was granted in tho case Jano Elizabeth Inwood v. Frederick Arthur In. wood, on the ground of desertion. let]. tioner was given the custody of the children. STRIKERS FIRMLY MET. Gisborne, November 12. Yestordav the employees on the Harhour Board's dredge Maui made application for an increase of wages. Hi? to pointed out that they had been cited by the Labourers' Union before the Arbitration Court, and, therefore, the matter was sub judiee. This morning ten men decided to craso work in tho evening, beinj dissatisfied with tho reply. The boa d then took decided action, and have applied for further men to fil the places of those striking. Tho trouble is not considered likelv to spread, and the men, seeiiig H>" action of the board, may apply for reinstatement. HANGAROA GRASS FIRES. Gisborne, December 12. Settlers in tho Hangaroa have been experiencing severe bush fir a during the past two days, and a considerable area of grass has beenlost la addition it is thM one larnifP lost a number of sheen, .^-"^V.. 1 ': Barton's house and v;ool shed, nor Vi hatatuUi. were endangered, and many shearor had to be called from an tioir to save tho proportj. All t c worn and engines were taken from the shed, St fortunately the flames were kept back, ndthough Hie place is not yet out of da - 2"r \bout 2000. acres have been affected.