SUPREME COURT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 205, 13 August 1932, Page 6

SUPREME COURT

QUARTERLY SESSIONS SITTING AT NAPIER. WAIPUKURAU ASSAULT CASE SENTENCE. (Before His Honour Mr Justice Ostler.) At the Supreme Court at Napier today. His Honour Mr Justice Ostler dealt with miscellaneous divorce actions and bankruptcy matters. The session will be resumed on His Honour’s return from Gisborne. John Leslie Ferguson, who was found gujlty of assault at Waipukurau, was sentenced to eighteen months’ reformative detection.

Counsel, who appeared on behalf of the accused, said there was a general disturbance in which there appeared to have been a real mix up. Ferguson had no intention of doing anyone personal injury. Counsel considered it was a case in which the provisions of probation could be extended and the ends of justice met. By being kept under strict supervision the accused would be given a chance to make good Addressing the accused, His Honour said he was very fortunate that he was not charged with manslaughter, as Captain Cowie remained in a critical condition for a long time before recovering. If he had pleaded guilty, His Honour said, he might have been able to look at the matter in a more lenient light. He had denied the offence and had tried to discredit the Crown witnesses. Besides going into the witness box and committing perjury he had brought a gang from Waipukurau, of whom Ferguson appeared to be the leader, who made an exhibition of themselves in the witness box. It was not Ferguson’s first appearance in Court, as he had previously been convicted of theft and obscene language. Sentence as stated above was then passed. COOPER SENTENCED. Malcolm Dunbar Cooper, aged 18 years, who pleaded guilty to two charges of breaking and entering, was committed to the Borstal Institute for a period of two years. Counsel suggested that a short term of Borstal treatment would give the accused a chance to retrieve himself besides meeting the ends of justice. His Honour concurred, stating that Cooper had failed to make the best use of previous chances. IN DIVORCE. On the ground of desertion James Edmund Brown was granted a decree nisi, to be moved absolute after three months, from Pauline Brown. The petitioner was granted' interim custody of the two children. Mona Smith was granted a decree nisi, to be moved absolute after three months, from Alfred Smith on the grounds of separation, petitioner being granted custody of the only child. Vera Gertrude May Tonkin was granted a decree nisi, to be moved absolute after three months, from Charles Stanley Tonkin, separation being the grounds. On the grounds of separation Florence Wellby was granted a decree nisi, to be moved absolute in three months, from Daniel John Wellby. Interim custody of the children was granted to petitioner. IN BANKRUPTCY. Discharges from bankruptcy were granted to Henry Thomas Hunter, of Hastings, and George Edgar Williams, of To Awanga. <