AUCKLAND SUPREME COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13833, 20 August 1908, Page 7

AUCKLAND SUPREME COURT.

ALLEGED ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE.

PRISONER ACQUITTED, At the Supreme Court yesterday, before Mr. Justice Edwards, a man named Frank Tail, alias Grant, was tried upon a, charge of robbing one Walter Brown with violence. Mr. J. R. Lundon defended. Brown, who described himself as a labourer, living at Oncwfiero, stated that he came to town from the Waikato on July 3. He then had five £1 notes. He had a number of drinks at Various hotels. He met the prisoner in Albert-street, and the latter asked him if he had any money. "Are you a sailor?" he inquired, and acclosed replied in the affirmative. Asked whether he was a fireman, witness' casual acquaintance again replied Yes," whereupon witness said "Well, if you are a fireman I'll shout for you." They adjourned to the Star Hotel, where they had a drink, and then came out. On getting outride witness said accused put one hand over his (witness') face a.nd the other into his trousers' pocket, where he had three £1 notes and some silver. Witness also received a blow which seemed to come from some one behind the fence, but he could not say for certain. Witness called out, and accused ran away, but was captured by a pedestrian. On examining his pocket, which was torn, witness found that the three notes were missing. Subsequently a bystander handed him 2s 3d, which he had found lying on the ground. The evidence as to identity was conflicting, and when the case for the Crown had been concluded Mr. Lundon asked whether there was any necessity to go pn with it. Hi? Honor replied that he could not stop the case, but he would tell the jury that lie did not think it safe to convict. The jury signified that they did not wish to hear any more evidence, and forthwith returned a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner was discharged.

CHARGE AGAINST A FARMER. A charge of receiving several sacks of maize cobs knowing them to have been stolen was preferred against a farmer named , Ronald Soutar, who pleaded not guilty. Mr. J. R. Reed defended. , Mr. Tole stated that the accused was a fanner living at Puriao, in the W'nakatane district, his farm adjoining that of Mr. Yeoman. On June 19 Mr. Yeoman engaged a number of natives to pluck some maize cobs, a task upon which they were engaged for several days. While the natives were thus employed accused asked them to let him have some of the corn, and promised to give them a side of bacon or something of the soil, if they complied. The natives fell in with the request and received payment as arranged. Suspect, ing that all was not right Yeoman placed nails in several bags of corn, which were stolen. The natives were arrested, convicted, and fined. An inspection was then made of the accused's premises, upon which several of the missing bags were discovered.

The case for the Crown, was still in progress at five o'clock when the Court adjourned until 10.30 this morning.