SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 123, 18 February 1919, Page 9

SUPREME COURT

SENTENCE ON A PRISONER.Johannes Jtcei'tens, nged U,: came beforo His Honour Mr. Justice Edwards yesterday for sentence on a charge of having carnally known a girl under the ajjo of sixteen yenrs. . . . Mr. Proiitlfiville appeared for' the Crown, and Mri'Willis for the prisoner. Mi-. Willis urged in extenuation of the offence the previous good character borno by the prisoner, and the probability that the prisoner had been "more sinned against than sinning" by a girl-who had previously been tampered with. His Honour-said that lie would not treat the case as a bad one:- The prisoner knew that he was guilty of an offeiice against the law, and a law; made for the protection of the young-; but His Honour could not help thinking that the' prisoner had not done the girl much harm, if any. For the breaoh the law, however, Meertens would lx> seip fenced to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour. ■ ■ ■

DIVORCE ,SUIT. ■..-.. . Thomas Henry Wilson, a returned 'soldier, petitioned for a divorce from Amelia Wilson, oil the ground: of desertion. . Mr. P. W.. Jackson appeared- for the: petitioner. The casoiwas not defended. Petitioner stated that lie married the respondent on October 9, 1909, and li.yed with her in Wellington;' About nine months after the_ marriage tjie respondent toolv proceedings against petitioner in tho Magistrate's Court for eeparatibn and .maintenance. The ground of the : suit was an.allegation of cruelty.'.' After hearing the evidence, Mr. Riddell, 5.M.,) dismissed the casej and told the respondent to go back to her husband. She. had )tever gone back, howeiveiy in dpite .of re-, peated requests from' petitioner that she should do bo.

Tho petitioner's mother also gave evidence in support of the petition. A decree nisi, to be made absolute in three months,.-was graated.

DAMAGES FOB DEFAMATION... By. Tejesraph—Press' Association....... .. ~ '. Auckland,.February 17,:; In the Supreme' Court a jury, awardedJ. Hi Osl>orne,„ faiin manager, of-.Helens-ville. i3OO dainagesagaint.JohnP. Hand, farmer, .Helensvillo,. for .defamatory.state--mciite, contained in a-letter published by defendant in the Helensville paper. PALMEES'r.oif -NORTHS SESSIONS; By Teii'srdph.—PreßS Aeeociation.' Palmnrston N., Februiiry 17. . Tho Supremo Court sessions, '. before Mr. Justice Chapman,' coliimeiiced to-', day. There were- only--twO''-crihunal ohnrpcli. Gooirgu - Samuel Deadmnn, found guilty of incest, was sentenced to seven years' hard'labour. - ; • - "■•