SUPREME COURT

Grey River Argus, 30 May 1914, Page 5

SUPREME COURT

AN EXRAORDINARY CASE. '[Per United Press Association.). - WANGANUI, May 29. ' At the Supreme Court to-day a young man named Austin Henry Bruen stood his trial for the -second . time on charges. (1) attempting to car naly know a g:-rl' under sixteen years, (2) indecent assault- (3) common assault. • • $ After three hours retirement the jury returned with the following ver- ] diet:— Not guilty of carnal 'knowledge, not guilty of indecent assault, and ] iguilty of common assault. Justice Edwards decl£<ned to accept the verdict on the ground that it was illogical. The jury retired for three quarters of an hour, when they returned with the following r verdict, : not guilty on the first count; disagreed on the second, and guilty on the third with a recommendation . to mercy. • The judge again declined to accept such a verdict. The jury once more retired and after a quarter of an hour returned ■ •with a of not guilty ou all 1 counts. ' * t 1 Justice Edwards addressing Bruen said: The jury, has disbelieved your own statements made on oath. I "irecommend you to. be more .careful, for you may 'not find that 'another jury 1 -will disbelieve you." ' " 1 The -prisoner and jury were then ( discharged. The -prisoner addressing tihe jufy said: Gentlemen I thank you. Justice Edwards: Prisoner at the bar, you are fined ,£5 for contempt of court ' Prisoner's counsel, pleaded for : . a remission of fine, but the Judge ordered payment forthwith, and promised to hear counsel next morninjr. CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. In the case in which Mrs. IMulliner claimed ;£iooo damages from J. Tvess for injuries- sustained as the result of alleged wrongful conduct cf a serious nature, Sk John Findlay for the de- • fendant, , asked for an adjournment till next sitting, .as two vitally important -witnesses- were ill, tfnd could jiot ' attend. Mrr T. M. Wilford objected,- but Justice Edwards granted the adjourn- < ment. A DIVORCE CASE. A decree nisi was granted in the ' divorce .case, Florence May Gordon v. 1 Matthew J .Gordon on the grounds of drunkenness and desertion.