SUPREME COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4292, 27 February 1901, Page 7

SUPREME COURT.

PBESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, February 26. The Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stour; . opened the sitting of tho Supreme Court here yesterday. He said he regretted the length of the calendar. There wen, three charges of murder, four pf sexual offences, and several of breaking ami entering. In. one murder, case, a man was charged with killing his son, and the defence turned on the state of the prisoner’s mind. In another case a native was charged with killing his wiltwhile he- was under tho influence o; liquor. Donald McLean pleaded guilty to a charge of forgery and uttering, and was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within a year. Pio Moses, on a similar charge, was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment. Xohu Rohu, a Maori boy, was admitted to a year’s probation for breaking and entering. John James Dover, for stealing tools, was ordered to be imprisoned in:: eighteen months. James Thomas, charged with stealing from the person, on the Parawai racecourse, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, arid 'William Baker, for theft of a ton and a half of iron, to three months. George Harris, for attempted theft from the person, v.asi sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour. Haraka Herapa, charged with stealing a horse, said lie believed he wms quite right in taking tho horse, Maori customs allowing the taking of relatives’ horses. Ho intended to return it. He w r as found not guilty. CHRISTCHURCH, February 26.

Mr Justice Denniston reserved judgment in the case brought by the Canterbury Jockey Club against -Edward Patterson, bookmaker, Wellington, claiming £IOO damages for alleged trespass on the Riccarton racecourse.

In tho Supremo Court to-day tho divorce case of Adam versus Adam, a wife’s petition for dissolution of marriage, was heard. The respondent, James Dunlop Adam, did not appear. Ho was previously in business as a stool; agent in Timaru. On account oT the respondent’s drunken habits the bailiffs catered the house in 1890, and the goods were sold. The respondent. went to Western Australia;, and had not since contributed to the support of his. wife and-family. A decree nisi was granted. DUNEDIN, February 26. At the criminal sittings to-day, John Ramsay was convicted of housebreaking and theft. Sentence was deferred. James White and Frank Watson were arraigned on a charge of attempting to steal from J. A. Braithwaifce ’ £lo9' VA< 4d in. money. White, who was out on bail, did not appear, and his • recognisances were estreated. In Watson’t case the jury returned a verdict- of not guilty, and the accused was discharged. A charge against John Holland of carnally knowing a. child under nine years of ago was proceeded with, but was not concluded. AVANGANUI, February 26. At this morning’s sitting of tlio Supremo Court James Burns pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to assault and rob T. R. Hickson, a bank clerk in possession of a, large sum of money. Mr Wilford, for the defence, pleaded for tho leniency of the Court, as prisoner was a first offender, and the crime was but a silly act of bravado. Mr Justice Edwards said it was a deliberate attempt to shoot, and sentenced the prisoner to 1 fourteen, years’ imprisonment. Poaka, a native, was ordered to he imprisoned for three years for assaulting his wife by kicking her about the head and knocking her teeth down her, throat. On charges of breaking arid entering, Arthur Wood and Frederick Patterson were each sentenced to one year’s imprisonment, and Walter Johnston was admitted to probation for throe years.

In the case against Henry Roberts for. alleged rape, the prisoner was practically charged with having, after ascertaining that thc woman’s, husband was anriy from home, ’ called at her house in Mangaweki late at night, awakened the womari, and told her .that he had brought a parcel for her from her husband. He - garnet! admission to the house, and, it is alleged, committed a criminal assault. No evidence was called !for the defence. After hearing evidence, the jury retried at 4 o’clock. As they had not agreed at 8 o’clock they were discharged. The case will bo re-, heai-d.