COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 14 August 1937, Page 3

COURT NEWS

PRISONERS SENTENCED. LPer Press Association], GISBORNE, August 13. In the Supreme Court this morning, Mr Justice Reed sentenced James Alexander Denny, found guilty of an attempted offence against boys, to 18 months’ reformative detention. Charles Frederick Murphy a halfcaste Maori, who escaped from gaol earlier in the week, was sentenced to twelve months’ gaol for false pretences and theft, the sentence to be cumulative with the other at present being served.

NEGLIGENT DRIVING. £1436 DAMAGES AWARDED. INVERCARGILL, August 12. A verdict for plaintiff for £I43G 9d damages was returned by a jury in the Supreme Court to-day in a civil action by Maurice Clark Mander, flax cutter, against James Alfred Coveney of Grove Bush, farmer, claiming £2940 8s 9d, as damages for the alleged negligent driving of a motorcar, which came into collision with a motor-cycle ridden by plaintiff on the Kensington-Grove Bush Road, on February 22, 1936. Judgment was entered in accordance with the verdict, but counsel for the defendant, Mr H. J. Macalister, said that he would move for a new trial. He said that the only reasonable inference from the evidence was that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence, and was not entitled to judgment. He further moved that the case be withdrawn from the jury. Mr Justice Kennedy said that he had ample opportunity to study the evidence, and he had formed the opinion that there was a case to go to the jury. According to the verdict judgment should be entered for the plaintiff. Mr Macalister said that on the jury’s answers to questions put to it, there appeared to" be ample grounds to move for a new trial, and that would be done in duo course. His Honor said that there was sufficient evidence for the plaintiff to go before a jury. It was not a case in which it was the duty of the Judge to withdraw the case from the jury, and non-suit plaintiff or give judgment for defendant. Mr Macalister’s motions would be dismissed and judgment would be entered for plaintiff for £1436 7s 9d damages, with costs.

INTOXICATED DRIVER. WELLINGTON, August 13. Following a bump into a stationary car with a friend’s car he borrowed, Samuel Beattie, a waterside worker, was fined £6, with costs for being intoxicated when in charge of a car, and was disqualified from obtaining a driver’s license for 12 months. On a charge of driving without a license he was convicted and discharged. The story told was that he got a key to get something out of the car, and while doing so thought he would drive to his wife’s sister’s place to get her to intercede with his own wife, who had had words with him over his drinking. On the way the car broke down, and a mechanic fixed it for him but would take no payment, so they had two drinks. He and his wife s father had had several drinks earlier in the day. Counsel said the husband and wife were not recftnciled.