TELEGRAMS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1904, 14 April 1888, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(per united press association).

WELLINGTON, April 14.

The Supreme Court was occupied all day hearing a charge of murder preferred against Fong Chong and his wife, an English woman. The body of their infant child, bearing marks of violence, was found wrapped in a bag on the beach at Evans' Bay in January last. The jury retired at 7.30, and, after an hour's deliberation, acquitted the accused of the more serious charge and entered up a verdict of concealment of birth. The Chief Justice sentenced the prisoners to two years' imprisonment each, but reserved the question of the corpus delicti for the Appeal Court, and ordered that execution should be arrested until the decision of that court was given. A peculiar point arose alter tbe verdict was given, it being ascertained' that none of the evidence had been interpreted to the male prisoner. His Honor said it anything it was only a mistrial, but he was not prepared at present to say what course should be adopted.

William J. McCaunagh, for embezzlement, was sentenced to one year's hard labor. With the exception of the case against Philip Wilberforce, now beina tried, the remaining private cases of prosecution have been adjourned till the 2nd May. Judge Prendergast leaves for Wanganui, and Judge Richmond for Nelson and Blenheim sittings on Monday.

AUCKLAND, April 14.

An old man named Peter O'Daivd, residing at Mount Roskell road, attempted suicide yesterday by swallowing laudanum after which he chewed the heads of matches, He, is recovering.

A man named Henwood Matthews, a farmer at Kaitari died to-day from the effects ol injuries received through an arm being caught in a threshing machine.

DUNEDIN, April 14.

The libel action Dalbedyhie v. Brnnton came to a conclusion this evening. The jury returned a verdict for plaintiff for the full amount claimed and costs. Defendant had written a letter grossly reflecting on the character of plaintiff's wife.