SUPREME COURT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15704, 25 August 1911, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

CIVIL SITTINGS. Thursday, August 24. (Before his Honor Mr Justice Denniston.) The civil sittings of the Supreme Court wore continued at 10 a.m. GARDNER v. MURCHISON. Tlie case of Gardner (Mr Russell) v. Murchison (Mr Stringer, K.C f , and Mr Meares), arising out of a collision with motor-cars on tho North Road, was continued. William Henry Dune, a farmer, also gave evidence regarding the tracks in the road. Reuben A. Dexter, a motor expert, gave evidence regarding the ability of cars to pull up at various speeds. F. W. Smith, motor expert, estimated the cost of the repairs to Gardner’s car at £156 10s and of MurcliU son’s oar at £IOO 10s. He said that the cars would lie practically as good as new after repairing, but a depreciation of 2i per cent should be allowed. William Dan Berry, motor expert, put the cost of repairs down at —To») for Gardner’s car and £ll2 for Murchison’s car. F. W. Freeman, licensed surveyor, gave evidence, describing tlie track lollowed by tho cars, and produced a plan based cn tlie marks in the road, with full measurements, which showed, that the nearest tho wheels of Murchison's car went to the grass on the rignt hand-side of the road was lift. Counsel addressed the jury, and Ins Honor summed up. The jury retired at 3.5 p.m. After a retirement of forty-five minutes the jury returned a verdict that both parties were equally to blame. The verdict amounted to judgment for tho defendant on the claim and for Gardner on the counter-claim. His Honor reserved the question of costs. DATES FIXED. His Honor fixed Monday, at 10 a.m. for the hearing of all undefended divorce cases, to bo followed by the civil actions of Ritchie and Co. v. Thomas Mathewson, and Richard Allen v. District Laud Registrar. The, Court adjourned until 10 a.m. on Monday. [Per Press Association*.] PALMERSTON N., August 24. At the Supreme Court, John Owen, found guilty of assault in connection with the Moutua case, five years ago, iu which lie was charged with murder, was sentenced to eighteen months’ reformatory treatment, leniency being extended on account of an accident which partly destroyed his mental balance. WELLINGTON, August 24. At the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr Justice Sim, John Maloney, aged twenty years, was convicted of indecently assaulting a girl eight years of age, and remanded for sentence. Allen Leo, formerly storeman in charge of W. and G. Turnbull and Co.’s bond store, was found guilty of stealing goods. He was remanded for sentence.