SUPREME COURT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16564, 30 May 1914, Page 13

SUPREME COURT.

WANGANUI. [Pbr Press Association.] WANGANUI, May 29

At the Supreme Court to-day a young man named Austin Henry Bruen stood his trial for a second time on charges (1) attempting a criminal offence against a girl under sixteen years, (2) indecent assault, (3) common assault. After three hours' retirement the jury returned with the following verdict:— Not Guilty on the first, Not Guilty of indecent assault, Guilty of common assault.

Mr Justice Edwards declined to accept the verdict on the ground that it was illogical.

The jury retired, for three-quarters of an hour, when it returned with the following verdict:- Not Guilty on the first count, disagreed on the second, and Guilty on the third, with a recommendation to mercy.

The 'Judge again declined to accept such a verdict.

The jury once more retired, and after a quarter of an hour returned with a verdict of Not Guilty on all counts. Mr Justice Edwards, addressing Bruen, said:-—"The jury has disbelieved your own statements made on oath. * I recommend you to be more careful, for you may not find that another jury will disbelieve you." The prisoner.' and; 'jury'-were'-then discharged. The prisoner, addressing the jury, said: "Gentlemen, I thank you." Mr Justico Edwards: Prisoner at the bar, you are fined £o for contempt of Court.

Prisoner's counsel pleaded for a remission of the fine, but the Judge ordered payment forthwith, and promised to hear "counsel next morning. In a case in which Mrs Mulliner claimed £IOOO damages from J. Ivess for injuries sustained as the result of alleged wrongful conduct of a serious nature. Sir John Findlay, for defendant, asked for an adjournment till next sitting, as two vitally important witnesses were ill and could not attend. Mr Wilford objected, but Mr Justice Edwards granted the adjournment. ' A decree nisi was granted in the divorce case Florenco May Gordon v. Matthew J. Gordon, on the grounds of ■ drunkenness and desertion.