THE APPEAL COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 11943, 20 July 1903, Page 5

THE APPEAL COURT.

WELLINGTON, July 20. In the Appeal Court the conviction was quashed m the case Rex v. Gray. In this case the accused was charged with having attempted to dissuade the witness Strong from giving evidence in previous criminal proceedings. The Chief Justice directed the jury that if they thought the accused had attempted to dissuade the witness in question from giving such evidence as would lead to a conviction then they should con- !? ct "m.- JUI 7 * ound acc used guilty, and the Chief Justice reserved the case for the consideration of the Court of Appeal. The Chief Justice now delivered judgment, the Court quashing the conviction on the grounds that subsection 1 of section 121 of the Criminal Code Act of 1893 applies only where the accused has persuaded or attempted to persuade a witness not to attend for the purpose of giving evidence, or to stand niute The case was one of attempting to pervert the course of justice within the meaning of subsection 4 of section 121, but the conviction under subsection 1 of the same section could not stand. Ine conviction was therefore quashed In the case Rex r. Stanley, the Court confirmed the conviction, holding that the adoption of children under the Act creates the relationship of parent and child for all purposes, civil ai> well as criminal. The Court unanimously dismissed the appeal in the cage of Ritchie v. Hall. Ihe case of Rex v. W. Wilfred Badger is being argued before the Court to-day. This is the case in which the accused, who is a Christchurch solicitor, was indicted for criminal libel on another solicitor practising at Christchurch. He was convicted on the first count of the indictment, but certain points of law were reserved by Mr Justice Williams. Mr Jellicoe is appearing for the accused and Mr Russell for the Crown