CRIMINAL SESSIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2691, 10 February 1916, Page 9

CRIMINAL SESSIONS

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER. By Tclesraph—Press Association. Timaru, February 9. The Supreme Court was occupied all day on a ehargo of manslaughter against James William Grant, ninholder, Mackenzie Country, of causing the death of Hector W. P. Cox, machinery agent, by the negligent driving of his motor-car, causing a collision with the motor-cycle ridden. by doceased. The evidence for the prosecution indicated that two cars were f 1 travelling along a dusty road at an ex- 1 cessive pace, accused being in the sec- t on<l car, and in tlie dust raised by tho ,i first, and that he turned off the mid- t die of the road to the right-hand side J and also immediately ran into the c.v- ' clist. The accused claimed that his n speed was usual on that road, and not . unreasonable. That he was on the mid- s die of the road_ and did not turn off till s after the collision, and the swerve cap- a sized the <yu\ He did not see tlie cy- I clist; for just _ before .the meeting a v puff of wind raised a cloud of dust and c hid all in front. Tlie jury was out for ? the, full four hours, and just at the u limit of time agreed to a verdict, of j "Not Guilty." It is understood Grant a has made provision for the widow v and F family. 'I ' 1; THEFT FROM THE PERSON. a Wanganul, February 9. t In the Supreme Court to-day, Neary, charged with theft from the person, d ■was sentenced to two years' imprison- l meilt.' t PRISONERS SENTENCED. ® Dunsdin, February P. v ! The criminal Bitting concluded thia I

morning. The following sentences were passod on prisoners whose cases had been dealt with during tile week:— Claude Osmond Barker, for theft and false pretences, six months' on each of two charges, and to bo detained thereafter for fivo years' reformative treatment; Christian Christcnsen, for receiving stolen property, ordered,-to I pay a fine of £50, in default to undergo six months' imprisonment; David Cameron, for theft of hides, eighteen months', imprisonment, to commence at the expiration of prisoner's present sentence.