LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11243, 12 December 1899, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE.

SUPREME COURT.-In Chambers. [Before His Honor Mr. Justice Conolly.] At a sitting in chambers, held yesterday, His Honor granted probate of the will of Antonio Morris, late of Opv.a, Bay of Islands, storekeeper, deceased, on tho motion of Mr. E. 0. Jjioomfield, of Kawakawa. DIVORCE OASES. Haro Rogers v. Kato Rogers and Patrick Conrad, motion for decree nisi dissolving tho marriage of petitioner and respondent. Mr. E. C. Bloomfield, of Kawakawa, appeared for Itho petitioner; Evidence in this case was part heard last session, and adjourned, in order to allow counsel to call evidence as to tho (service of tho citations upon tho partfes. Mr. Bloomfield called two natives, named Piri Wright and George "Wright, on this point. His Honor granted the decree, and allowed costs on tho highest scale against the co-respondent. Thomas Fletcher (petitioner) v. Mary May Fletcher (respondent) and Thomas Godkin and Frederick Duckering (co-respondents). Mr. C. J. Parr appeared for the petitioner, and Mr. F. E. Baumo for Godkin. The respondent and Duckering did not appear. This was a motion for a decree nisi dissolving the marriage of petitioner and respondent, 011 the ground of the latter's adultery with the two co-respondonts. The caso was heard with a common jury of four. Thomas Fletcher, the petitioner, stated that he was a farmer residing at Hotoo North, in tho Port Albert district. His first wife died about 1891. He ha"d a second wife, who also died. Ho married the respondent (then a widow) in May, 1893, at Spring-street, Ponsonby. They lived together for a week, and he then returned to his home, the arrangement being that his wife was to sell off her furniture and follow him. She did not do so. In November, 1893, ritness again visited Auckland, but failed to find his wife, and then returned to his home. In December, 1893, he received a letter from her, in which she said she did not- intend to see him again, and was going to maxry the man she loved. Ho did not hear of her again till three years ago, when, in consequence of what he had hoard, ho wrote to the registrar of births, deaths, and marriages at Drury, and received a copy of the registration of the birth of an illegitimate i child named " Fred. Duckering Fletcher," of 1 which Mary May Fletcher was tho registered | mother. He also received a copy of the j certificate of the child's death, In Ootober | and November, 1897, he received letters from i his wife, asking for forgiveness, and to be j taken back. F. H. Williamson, solicitor, i stated that he served the citations on the respondent and Godkin, at Ramarama, where they were living together in a small house. Mrs. .Fletcher admitted that she had had a I child, of which Duckering was the father. ! Godkin denied having committed adultery I with the respondent, and said she was only Irs housekeeper. Samuel Walker, registrar of births for the Drury district, gave evidence as to the registration of the birth of the ! child. Bridget Paul, a widow, stated that j she was present at an interview between ! Duckering and Mrs. Fletcher, when the for- ; mcr gave the latter £10 to cover the doctor's | expenses in connection with the child. Conj stable Foreman deposed that up til! about | May or June of the present year Godkin was ' the licensee of the Railway Hotel at Drury. 1 Duckering was a settler at Drury. Mrs. ; Fletoher had been living at tho hotel, and also at a store kept by Godkin. • Subse- | quently tho license of the hotel was transI ferred, and Godkin and Mrs. Fletcher went I to live on a farm' at Ramarama. To Mr. ! Baume: She was away from the hotel several I times, and during her absenco other house-

keepers Were employed. Thomas Beaney, at one time employed at Godkin's hotel, gave evidence as to familiarities he had witnessed between respondent and Godkin. William MeGee, farm labourer, working recently on Godkin's farm at Ramarama, and Margaret Godkin, wifo of the co-respondent, Godkin, from whom she had been separated for tho last-10 years, were also examined. The defence was a denial of the adultery. After counsel addresses, the Court was adjourned till this morning at ten o'oloek, when His Honor sums up.

POLICE COURT NEWS. Mr. T. Hutchison, S.M., presided at the Police Court yesterday. Drunkenness: Six first offenders were discharged with the usual admonition for this offence. Robert Bateman, William Hart, James Dochorty, Robert Collier, and Wm. Wiliams, were each fined ss, or in dofault 24- hours. Henry Barstow was fined 10s, or 48 hours; John Smith, who admitted his fifth offenco within six months, was sentenced to two weeks' Smprisonment, and Mary Whittingham was fined 20s, or one week's imprisonment in default. A Street Row: Patrick Denis Smytho, Michael Smythe, and Robert David Green, were each fined 20s, or in default seven days' imprisonment, for using threatening behaviour in Victoria-street. Breaches of tho By-laws: Thomas Brown was fined 10s, and costs 7s, for driving round a street corner at other than a walking pace. Albert Calvert and Frank White were discharged with a caution for leaving vehicles unattended in the street. Arthur James Denniston was charged with allowing a horse to wander in a public place. Mr. E. Russell pleaded not guilty on defendant's behalf, and after evidence had been heard the ease was dismissed. A similar chargo against William Knox was also dismissed. John Torrens was fined Is, and costs 7s, for allowing a mare and foal to wander in Karangaliape Road. Adjourned: Two ohorges against John Endean, of breaches of the licensing laws, were further adjourned till Wednesday next, on the application of Mr. Tole. Breach of Printers' Registration Act: A. R. Miller was charged with dispersing gratuitously a pamphlet on which the name and place of abode of (ho printer were omitted. Mr. J. A. Tole appeared for the defendant, and His Worship said as the case was such a trivial ono it would be dismissed. Prohibition Order: A prohibition order was granted against Alexander Whisker. Dismissed: A charge against a man named Cook, of alleged theft of kauri gum, the property of one Humphrey E. Sharp, was dismissed for want of prosecution.