THE COURTS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 896, 3 May 1889, Page 23

THE COURTS.

SUPREME COURT.

(PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION.) New Plymouth, April 25. The Supreme Court sessions opened to. day, the calendar being heavier than usual. George Jones, for indecent assault on a Maori woman, was sentenced to six months, The same person, for housebreaking, was sentenced to 12 months. William Moore, for breaking and entering, was sentenced to 18 months’ hard labour. There were four charges of perjury. The grand jury threw out the bills against Martin Petrie and Jessie Petrie for perjury, and brought in true bills against James McLauohlan and Albert Edward Nelson for perjury. The Court adjourned till to-morrow morning, when the perjury cases will be taken. They are expected to last several cays. New Plymouth, April 27. At the Supreme Court the perjury case was continued, and lasted all day. The case for the prosecution in the charge against Nelson closed, and Mr Jelliooe opened the ease for the defence. During the delivery of his address he was irequently interrupted by his Honor. Ultimately Mr Jellicoe declared he would have to withdraw from the case, as he could not bring himself to conform to his Honor’s ruling. He stated that the procedure in this Court was different to that at Wellington and Christchurch. Ultimately, at 4.30 p.m, he asked for an adjournment to consider his position, which was granted, till Monday at 10.30 a.m. Mew Plymouth, May 1. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court were concluded to-day. A. E. Nelson, charged with perjury, was acquitted by the jury without, a stain on his character. A similar charge against McLaughlan was withdrawn after the verdict returned by the jury in Nelson’s case, This was the outcome of a four days’ trial. Judge Gillies ordered the signature on the deed of lease—Petrie to McLaughlan to be pbotograhed in the interest of a scientific investigation on the subject of forgery. The charges of perjury arose out of two witnesses swearing that the signatures were forgeries and two swearing that they were genuine. Wanganui, April 28. In the Supreme Court yesterday the case of Maori Pau Te Eenia, charged with the manslaughter of William Kells, at Waitotara, on January 7th, occupied the Court all day, and eventually a verdict of not guilty was returned, and the prisoner was acquitted. In the rape case against Charles Lucas, which occupied all Saturday, the jury returned at 9.45 p.m., and were looked up all night. Being called into Court this morning at 10 o’clock without being able to agree, they were discharged. The Crown Prosecutor applied for a new trial, which is to be heard on Monday. John Hunter, alias Plowden was sentenced to two years’ hard labour for horse.stealing. When brought up on Wednesday Hunter had his case put off for a day to get his papers, and when the papers came he never used them; in fact, they were worthlejs. Next day when his turn came for sentence the gaoler had left these papers behind, and he again got a remand. The papers at length reached the Court this morning, and proved (so his Honor said) that Hunter was a “ confirmedjloafer.” Hunter, as one claim of respectability, put forward “ that he was a marked man,” When nentenoecl to Wanganui Gaol ho told the

Court he would soonor go to Taranaki. J. M. Noary was sentenced to two years’ hard labour for horse-stealing, and Jas. Rawlands to eighteon months for burglary. The Court adjourns on Monday, as the Chief Justice has to goto Wellington to swear in the Governor. The civil cases will be taken on Monday week. Among the cases is a local divorce suit. The prize-tight case comes on for hearing at the next sitting of the District Court. Wanganui, April 30. At the Supreme Court John Fitzgerald was sentenced to 12 months for robbery with violence. The Court then adjourned, as his Honor the Chief Justice had to go to Wellington to swear in the Governor. The Court resumes for civil business on Tuesday. Dunedin, April 30. In the Supreme Court to-day, in Chambers, a rather interesting case was decided. It came up in the form of a summons, calling on the plaintiff Wilkinson, in the case Wilkinson v. Johnston, to find security for costs, he being an undischarged bankrupt. Wilkinson, who was an ironmonger, after bis bankruptcy entered into some arrangement with Johnston about carrying on a business, but the latter, it is alleged, broke the agreement, and Wilkinson brings a claim for £2OOO damages, with the consent of the creditors, who agreed to forego any claim if he succeeded. Mr Justice Williams decided that if the action had been one of tort Wilkinson would have been entitled to proceed without finding a surety, but as in this case the damages, if recovered, wouldgotothe creditors, if they or any of them choose to claim it, the surety must be provided. Mr Mount, for Wilkinson, said, in view of the decision given, he would advise his client not to proceed with the action. Timaru, April 30. In the Supreme Court to-day, Judge Den□iston was welcomed by the Crown Prosecutor on behalf of the local bar. There are only half a dozen criminal cases for trial ; none of unusual interest. Four were disposed of to-day. W. Houston, forgery and passing cheque, pleaded guilty ; sentenced to 18 months. Duncan Gilchrist, shooting with intent, at Oamaru, was acquitted. Elizabeth McKenzie, keeping a disorderly house at Oamaru ; six months’ hard labour. Albert Hoskins, breaking, entering and theft at Geraldine, acquitted.