SUPREME COURT.

Feilding Star, 17 May 1907, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

[PBB PRBBB ASSOCIATION.] Gisborne, May 14. At the Supreme Court sittings, Sydney Herbert Eddell, oharged with theft of money from various women totalling £47 14s 6d was sentenced to nine months. . C. J. Lewis, Government Valuer, proceeded against W. A. Spurrell for £510 for libel. Respondent is a member of the Waimata Road Board, and at a meeting Spurrell is alleged to have said Spurrell is an honest man and did not cart the Government Valuer about and tickle his palm and get value lowered. Respondent's counsel said juries would have a lot to do if a Government officer took up all that was said. Such a meeting, he submitted, was a privileged occasion, and he asked for a nonsuit. The judge said it was a matter for the jury to decide if it was a privileged occasion. He would reserve ruling as to whether "tickling his palm" meant accepting a bribe. If the meeting was privileged it would have to be shown that the words were used as a matter of duty. Wellington, May 16. Thomas Wallace, alias Williams, alias McGowan, was found guilty of defrauding James Chapman and Arthur Chapman of £90. The Chapmans are recent arrivals from England and were duped by a confidence trick. Wallace was sent to goal for three "years.