SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 119, 30 May 1901, Page 2

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

[BX TELEGRATU—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, last night. The Chief Justice in the case of Bannatyno and Co. v. the Collector of Customs gave judgment for the return by the Crown of £3OO, which the firm, as agents for "the Tyser line, had paid as poll-tax on three Chinese members of the crew of the Indralema, who are alleged to have landed in the colony. Dunedin, last night. At the Supreme Court Mary Blue was acquitted of theft from the person. Later.—Mary Blue, charged with stealing £4 from the person, was acquitted. Frederick Herbert Perry was charged with having stolen 27 pieces of wool, the property of Ross and Glendining. Perry is a farmer, adjoining the prosecutors’ Blackstone Hill property. The fact of Perry having shorn Blackstone Hill sheep, and having sold the wool, was Admitted by counsel for the defence, but'the whole thing was done openly before the neighbors. The only mistake made was in branding these sheep on the back, instead of on the back of the head. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty, adding that the accused left the Court without a stain on his character. He was then arraigned on a charge, under the same circumstances, of stealing four sheep. The case is not yot concluded.

Napier, last night. Frank Freter was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment at the Supreme Court for stabbing a Maori named Hawea. The evidence showed that as the result of a quarrel in a hotel at Tc Aute, Hawea and accused went out to fight, and in a scuffle which ensued Freter used a knife four times, inflicting one very dangerous wound. The jury found him guilty under provocation.

At the Supremo Court to-day, Walter Smith was found guilty of assaulting his wife with intent to do her grievous bodily harm, and he was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

Christchurch, last night. The indictment against Annie Hood for perjury is being heard, before Mr Justice Cooper, this morning. Accused is the wife of R. N. Hood, who was acquitted on Monday on a similar charge, arising out of wages cases, heard at Culverden, Mrs Hood’s case has concluded. The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of not guilty. Later.—The case of James Bowie Kirk, charged with embezzlement, was adjourned till to-morrow to amend the counts. In the case Augustus L. Moore, charged with embezzlement, the indictment was quashed, accused being serving a sentence for forgery.