COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 6 February 1941, Page 10

COURT NEWS

Violent Maori Woman CONVICTED OF ASSAULT AUCKLAND, February 5. There was an unusual occurrence of a woman being charged with robbery with violence, in the Supreme Court when a Maori, Materia Brown, 45, was charged with assaulting an Indian bottle-gatherer, Morar Kalyan and robbing him of £4 10s. Through an interpreter, the Indian said that accused asked him into her house at Freeman’s Bay, and there assaulted him with a beer bottle and robbed him of his wallet and its contents. Evidence was given of the finding of the wallet in a restaurant, where accused had been sitting. The occupants of the house supported the Indians story of robbery. Mr Quartley addressed the Court on the accused woman’s behalf. The jury, after half an hour’s consideration, found the woman guilty of robbery with violence and she was remanded for sentence. AUCKLAND, February 5. Liberal use of the right to challenge jurymen was exercised by prisoners who were charged in 'he Supreme Court to-day, before Mr Justice EJair, that, on October 1, they escaped from the Auckland gaol by violent means, and that they rendered three warders incapable of resistance. The accused included John Henry Silva, against whom there had been a charge of the attempted murder of a warder, but, on the suggestion of the Judge, the Grand Jury had thrown opt the attempted murder chaige. Silva pleaded guilty to the two remain.ng charges. The other accused, Allan Roy Dull, Byran James O’Hehir, Randall Smith, and David Watson, pleaded not guilty. Duff was represented by counsel, Mr W. Noble.

Smith exercised his right to challenge jurymen to the number of six. Watson challenged five, and Duif challenged two, every second juryman cal.ed being challenged. Befor e the hearing commenced, the jury, counsel, and Judge visited the gaoi, to view the cells and layout of the buildings at the point of the alleged escape.