SUPREME COURT SITTINGS

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 6593, 29 October 1889, Page 4

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS

[PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, October 28. The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court resumed this morning before his Honor Chief Justice Prendergast, when three charges were presented by Wiremu Broughton and Arinl Donnelly of forcible entry and against Watarawl for murder, arising out of the Brouphton-Donnelly trouble, which occurred in Napier a short time ago. In his charge to the Grand Jury his Honor recapitulated at length the circumstances connected with the row and pointed out that where a person is in possession of property in land any attempt to forcibly oust him was punishable at law. If the person had a claim to the property he must assert his rights peaceably or in a court of law. Referring to the murder cases, his Honor said there might have been great provocation in the < eyes of the Maoris, bat auch in law re*

ducea the crime from one of wilful murder to manslaughter. However, if the jury thought from the evidence before them that the death of the victim was the result of accident then they were quite within their province to return for manslaughter instead of murder. The grand jury found a true bill of murder against Watarawi. There was some misunderstanding as; to. the date of hearing these Napier cases, and in consequence the common jury were discharged till to-morrow. The Appeal Court opened its sittings this morning, Judges Richmond, Dennlaton and Williams being present. Fifteen cases are on the list, but three or four will not come up. At 1 30 the grand jury returned with a true bill against Mrs Donnelly and others for forcible entry on land, ignoring the c unt charging her with entering a building. They found no bill In Broughton's case.