SOUTHERN COURTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12519, 11 March 1904, Page 6

SOUTHERN COURTS.

[by telegraph, —press association.] Feilding, Thursday. Three young men named Smith, Dowdall, and Hurdle, charged with assault and robbery on Sunday night, have been committed for trial. Bail of £50 and two sureties of £25 each was allowed. New Plymouth, Thursday. When the Supreme Court opened this morning, in the case Fleming v. Spence, an action to recover £200 for alleged negligence by the defendant, who is a lawyer, in advising plaintiff, who is a publican, counsel stated that an agreement had been come to by the parties to withdraw the case from the jury. The plaintiff was unreservedly withdrawing all imputations against defendant or any other person. The case was therefore struck out, as was also a motion tor writ of certiorari in. the same connection. In the latter case Judge Edwards expressed his personal opinion that if a magistrate had reason to believe he was subpoenaed in a case simply to prevent him sitting he would be justified in sitting, but if he believed he was a material witness he would be discreet to withdraw from adjudicating. In this case, although he had reserved his decision, he did so only on an interesting legal point, and he wished it distinctly understood that he was convinced that neither Mr. Stanford nor Mr. Spence had done anything wrong. r nn ■ i

Invercakgill, Thursday.

William Alexander, for an assault on John McAuM'e, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, Judge Chapman commenting on its serious nature. The victim is cot yet fully recovered.