SUPREME COURT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1321, 24 June 1897, Page 21

SUPREME COURT.

When the Supreme Court resumed yesterday week, the foreman of the jury intimated to His Honor Mr Justice iidwards

that the jury had been unable to agree on a verdict in the case of Ho Kee, charged with having failed to keep proper books. He was proceeding to make an explanation when Mr Jellicoe objected, and his objection vas allowed by His Honor. . The jury was then discharged. Mr Gully said that as the accused had been acquitted on the more

serious charge he would enter a nolle prosequi. Mr Jellicoe asked for accused's discharge, which was granted, Hia Honor remarking that accused's recent experiences ought to serve as a warning to him. Ibis closed the criminal sittings. In Banco on Thursday Mr Jellicoe made an application for the settlement of the decree and the taxation of the wife's costs in'the recent divorce case Soler v. Soler. In the course of a lengthy argument Mr Jellicoe contended that it was the husband's peculiar privilege and luxury to -pay the wife's expenses in divorce proceedings, even when he won his case. He cited various cases in support of this contention. Sir Robert and Mr Skerrett having replied, His Honor the Chief Justice made an order allowing Mr Jellicoe, for the wife's costs, the sum of <£loo paid into Court by the co-respondent. His Honor made no further order. In Banco last Thursday morning, before His Honor the Chief Justice, a motion was heard in the case of J. 3arson v. A. Gray for the dismissal of the suit on the same grounds that a similar suit against Messrs Bell, Gully and Bellwaadismisfed. MrC. P. akerrett.appeared for the dai'eiidun ~ aid the plaintiff appeared in person. Mr Skerrett asßei- His Honor to follow bis previous precedent in a similar case and dismips it. The plaintiff addressed the Court at considerable length, and went into the details of his claim. Referring to a certain " paper writing" designed to deprive the plaintiff of his private property, he said that the person who drew it up was " a longheaded and skilful liar, the like of whom one seldom met with." His Honor said that ho did not understand plaintiff's claim, and a Supreme Court Judge was supposed to have ordinary intelligence. The action was dismissed. In allowing defendant .£5 os costs, His Honor said ho thought I that as the plaintiff had previously had to pay costs, he would not come into Court again. Either plaintiff had paid those costs and liked it or had not. In the latter case, His Honor was not sure that the public servants were not to blame in practically encouraging the plaintiff in bringing cases into Court. In Chambers on Monday Mr Justice Edward* granted a special jury of twelve in tho case against the Assyrian Zaloom, charged with having subinittod false invoices to tho Customs authorities. A special jury was granted to try the action brought by Patrick Walsh against tho Shaw, Savill and. Albion Company and Mr Gannaway, in which dainagos to the extent of .£5Ol aro claimed for injuries sustained by the plaintiff while a servant ot tho Company. An order was granted, on the applcation of Sir Robert Stout, for the trial , before a Judge alone at the next sittings of

the petition of J. W. Burne for divorce from his wife, who is alleged to have gone with the co-respondent to South Africa. Dunedin, June 18. In Chambers to-day the case of the Bank of New Zealand and others v. Walter Guthrie and Co. was set down for hearing on July 1. Dunedin, June 18. At the' Supreme Court in Chambers today a summons was granted to sanction certain compromises in re the Colonial Bank in liquidation. New Plymouth. June 16. In the District Court to-day, before Judge Kettle, W. Malcolmson, for theft of the moneys of Wood Bros., of Christchurch, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment on each of three charges, the sentences to be cumulative, making three years in all. E.'Dell, for false pretences and issuing a valueless cheque, was admitted to probation for 12 months.