CRIME AND DIVORCE.

Evening Star, Issue 14575, 25 May 1911, Page 1

CRIME AND DIVORCE.

The criminal sessions at Wellington were concluded yesterday with the hearing of a charge, of false pretences against a young man named William James Oeddys Hughes. It was alleged that Hughes borrowed sums totalling £SO from two old people named Blake at Karori, representing that he would shortly receive money from property in Wales. The accused was found gulity, and was sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment. At Auckland yesterday John Andrew Showstrand, carpenter, forty-nine years of age, was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment—ten years on each "of* two charges of committing unnatural offences. At the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, yesterday William Stanley Wesley, a young man who recently came from England, pleaded guilty to forging the name of (ieorgo Walker to a Post Office Savings Bank withdrawal receipt and uttering the same, with intent that it should be acted upon as genuine. He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Jiu-i Were, a native of Tangiteroria, pleaded guilty at the Dargavillo S.M. Court yesterday to a charge of stealing and shooting eleven calves, and was committed for sentence. Another native, Hone Taka. of the s;une locality, was committed for trial on a charge of stealing bullocks valued at £B. the property of Henry Movie. In the Divorce Court, Wellington, vestorday decrees nisi were granted in 'the cases of Ellen Wiseman v. Ernest Wiseman (desertion), William Langford v. Florence Langford and Noah Morgan, co-res-pondent (misconduct). Caroline Forrest Stapleton v. Percival Ernest Stapleton (drunkenness, cruelty, and misconduct), and Herbert Montague Rosenberg v. Ada Rosenberg (misconduct).

Fhh most remarkable of the crop of pci it ions resulting on the Exeter's recent British General “ Corps d'Elite Election wm that of Mr Of Liars.” Duke, K.C., the Unionist candidate; for Exeter, who was defeated by Mr H. St. Maur by the narrow margin of four votes. Mr Duke claimed ihe .seat on the ground that ho polled more valid votes than his Radical rival, alleging illegal practices which invalidated certain votes for Mr St. Maur. there were counter-allegations, and the petition came on for hearing on Tuesday, April 2, before Justices Ridley and Channel. It lasted six days, and pioduccd a most exciting neck-and-neck race for (he scat. On the first day of the petition five votes for Mr St. Maur were, struck off. this putting the Unionist one ahead. Being nowin the majority, it was Mr Duke’s turn to be attacked, and as the result of objections to Conservative votee the Liberal succeeded in reversing the position and regaining the lead by the unit. The following three days were occupied in hearing a hatch of sixtytwo objections raised by the petitioner to votes which had been given by men who, it was alleged, has been paid for delivering hills and doing other work for (he Liberals during the election. The decision upon these cases was not given until all had been heard, and when it was made known on Saturday the effect was to give Mr Duke the lead once more with a majority of four. On Monday four Liberal objections wore allowed, producing a tie, but on the morrow Mr Duke succeeded in getting another Liberal vote disallowed, and so achieved a memorable triumph by a single vote, the final figures being: Mr Duke (U.) 4,777 Mr St. Main- (L.) 4,776 With a few honorable exceptions the witnesses called during the trial formed a procession of self-confessed liars. Their evidence was so much at variance with the statements they freely. admitted they had made outside the court that the judges indulged in strong comments. “ A liar once, a liar always," remarked Mr Justice Ridley. “I thought, in the case of one witness, that we were going to get at the truth once, but wo were left with only a pack of lies. I deplore very much what has occuired. It is a disgrace to the city and the country, and I wonder whether it is really desirable that such persons should have votes at all. I do not believe four men who alleged (hey received payment from Miss Toby, the typist at the Liberal Central Committee rooms, and their voles remain. 1 am sorry to say I do not believe that the. hook put before (be Court I was kept in the way Mr Atkinson (the Liberal agent) described. 1 have come to the conclusion that five votes must bo knocked off. I have had great (rouble in arriving at this conclusion, and I am full of suspicion that, more happened than has boon divulged," Sarcastic reference was also made in the judgment of the Court- to the city's “corps d’clite of liars.” At the conclusion of the trial there were scenes of great excitement in (lie city, the Judges being cheered and hooted as they drove from the court. Then at. the railway station there was a remarkable scene. Whim Mr and Mrs St. Maur arrived at the station, where, a large; crowd had aissc.mblcd, and entered a first class compartment, of a corridor coach, it was noticed (hat- Mr Justice Ridley occupied the adjoining compartment. Standing at a. window in the corridor immediately in front, of Mr Justice Ridley's compartment-. Mr St. Mac'- raised his hard for silence, and then started to speak. Me said ; Citizens of Exeter,—When yon have been able to purge your town of some of the people like those who brought that- action, and when you have been able to clear the country of unjustJudges, (hen we shall meet again. According to many eye-witnesses, Mr Justice Ridley thereupon put down the tiewspajxir he was perusing, and tapping Mr St. Maur on the shoulder exclaimed angrily: "I protest. You have no right to say those things of me ; to which Mr St. Maur replied : " I have a perfect right to express my opinion." Some other heated word- were interchanged, amid (be jeers of the crowd levelled al the Judge, who retired to his compartment very much upset.