SUPREME COURT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1290, 19 November 1896, Page 13

SUPREME COURT.

> — The Chief Justice, sittingin Banco on Thursday, heard a motion relative to a case now pending between George Geogehan and the Greymouth and Point Elizabeth Coal Company, a claim for damages arising out of the colliery disaster at Brunnerton. Air Ollivier, •with him Dr Findlay, representing the defendant company, moved that the statement of claim be amended, so as to show . the damages claimed on each cause of action : that the claim be reduced so as to come 1 within the amount allowed by the Employers Liability Act; and also for a finding of the Court on the question of whether the plaintiff could in any cas3 succeed unless he could show damage to the deceased’s estate. Mr Jellieoe, representing the plaintiff, opposed the motion. Argument had not concluded when the Court rose. CRIMINAL SITTINGS. The quarterly sessions of the Supreme Court were opened on Monday before the Chief Justice. THE GRAND JURY. The following- gentlemen were sworn in as a Grand Jury : —Messrs C. W. Benbow (foreman), E. Feist, F. Crease, R. Mclntyre, A. J. McTavish, J. W. Hill, J. R. Trevor, J. M. Richardson, C. Nettleton, C. D. Fox, S. A. Edinger, R. Ayres, M. Murdoch, C. Callis, J. C. Bryant, J. Wakeham, E. P. Montfort, S. S. Mason, W. E. Hall, J. M. Gunn, W. W. McLaughlan and N. Reid. his honor’s charge. His Honor, in his charge to the Grand Jury, said there were two indictments against two persons—Coombes and Scott — the one of accepting a bribe and the other of giving a bribe to abstain from giving evidence. There seemed to be no doubt that j Scott’s son had been the principal party in stealing some sheep from Coombes, and it also seemed certain that Scott senior had given a cheque for AGO to Coombes on account of some sheep. It would bo necessary for the evidence before them to show more than mere suspicion before the Grand Jury should send the case to the common jury. They must bear in mind they were not to try the case, but to see whether there was evidence to support the charge, and that there had been an attempt to frustrate the ends of justice by offering this money. There were two charges of abortion. It was really startling to find that there were a number of young women who were ever ready to offer themselves to women of whom they knew nothing to perform an operation which he understood was attended with considerable danger. The persons concerned in the present cases appeared to have had no medical instruction other than might have been derived from previous operations. Referring to the charge of murder preferred against James Shore, His Honor reviewed the evidence at great length, and at its conclusion said that it was for the Grand Jury to say whether the circumstances were sufficient to put the accused on his trial. TRUE BILLS. The Grand Jury found true bills in the following cases:—Thomas Curtis, Walter Curtis and James Mitchell, assault and robbery; Robert Martin Kirk, indecent assault; William Potter and John Gibson, assault and robbery; Norman Gustavus Hall, forgery ; Susan Short, procuring miscarriage; Stephen Bosher, theft; John Shepperd, theft (two charges) ; Harold Heath and Robert Henry Crocker, theft ; Mary Ann Sayer, procuring abortion; Stephen Bosher, bigamy; Joseph Kenny, wounding with intent to maim ; Lopez S. Wilkes, theft (two charges) ; William Coombes, accepting a bribe; Georgo Johnston Scott, giving a bribe; John Tagart, alias James Casey, theft. THE PETONE.MURDER. No bill was found in the case of James Shore, charged with the double murder at i Petone. ALLEGED ASSAULT AND ROBBERY. Thomas Curtis, Walter Curtis and .Tames Mitchell were charged with having assaulted and robbed Henry Levy on August 4th on the reclaimed land and robbed him of A2 13s (id. Mr Wilford appeared for the accused. After the evidence of the prosecution (which was the same as given in the Lower Court), Thomas Curtis and Mitchell gave evidence, in which they denied all knowledge of the robbery. The jury retired, and after a lengthened adjournment brought the prisoners in guilty. Sentence was deferred till next morning. JHE CHARGE OV BIGAMY AGAINST BOSHER. Stephen Bosher was placed in the dock, being understood that lie wished to make a special application to postpone his trial. The Crown Prosecutor said that the accused wished to call a witness from J:\jxton whoso evidence was immaterial, as it was only to swear that the accused had received a letter from a Magistrate in Akaroa. This fact, however, would be conceded. The other information required) by the accused from the Justice Depart-j ment had been obtained for him. The accused wished that this witness should be called, as he could testify to his having received a letter from a Magistrate in Akaroa in which it was stated that, as he (Bosher) had been away from his wife seven years, he was a free man. His Honor did not think it was necessary to call this witness, as the point had been conceded by the Crown. The accused was then removed. FORGERY. Norman Gustavus Hall pleaded guilty to forging a cheque for A 7 in the name of H. G. Flockton, and uttering the same by obtaining a coat from Veitch and Allan. Accused had a number of previous convictions, and had only come out of goal a few days previous to committing the forgery on which he was charged. His Honor sentenced the prisoner to 15 months’ hard labour. CHARGE OF HORSE-STEALING.

Harold Heath and Robert Henry Crocker werg then placed in the dock and charged

with having stolen a gelding and a mare at Woodville in October. Accused pleaded not guilty, and the hearing of the case was adjourned till next morning.