SUPREME COURT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7448, 24 May 1911, Page 2

SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL SESSIONS TWO VERDICTS OF NOT GUILTY. Tho criminal sessions of tho Supreme Court were resumed yesterday morning before his Honor the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout). George Stewart Neish, about eighteen years of age, was charged that on April 19th he indecently assaulted a boy of the age of seven years. Mr T. Neavc appeared for tho Crown, and Mr T. M. Wiiford for the prisoner, who pleaded not guilty. It was alleged that tho accused, who is, or was, an , amateur photographer, invited the boy and two little girls into tho house in which he lived, suggesting that he would take their photographs. The evidence was that the offence complained of occurred in tho house. Two charges in respect of alleged assault on the girls were dismissed in the lower court. Tho jury, without retiring found the prisoner not guilty. A RE-TRIAL. CHARGE OF THEFT. The charge, of theft of a mare against a young man named Arthur Gilford tyU Clair Isoistcr was re-heard. Mr T. iseave appeared lor tho Crown, and Mr T, N. Hoimden for the accused. The case was heard last week, but the jury failed to agree, and his Honor Mr Jusuico Chapman ordered a new trial. Xsbisto*’ was tho lessee of a small farm at Huh. And the mare in question l uas grazing on his land. An arrangement was made by him with the owner of the horse, and it was the essence of this agreement that was in dispute. The owner alleged that the agreement on accused's part was to sell the horse for .£23, and the accused said that he agreed to buy the hors© for <£23. A day or two afterwards he sold the horse for ,£l2, and did not pay either «£l2 or <£23 to the owner. The jury after a short retirement found the prisoner not guilty, ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCESBORROWING FROM OLD PEOPLE. A young man named William Jamcfi Geddys Hughes was charged, on ( two counts that he obtained the sum of Xsl 19s from an old couple named Bia&e, resident at Karori. Prisoner was defended by Mr F. P. Kelly., , Tho prosecution alleged that between Juno a£<l November of last year he obtained various sums of money from Mr and Mrs Blake, by means of representations that he would shortly receive some £225 as the proceeds of the sale of a property owned by him in Wales. It was a iact that ho came from Wales, and that so soon as he was married and had lawtul issue ho would succeed to a small property at Pontypridd, Wales. He was not then married, however, and in any case the property was not worth ■ The case for the prosecution had just been completed when the court adjourned until 10 a.m. to-day.

DIVORCE CASES. Mr T. M. Wiiford has informed the Chief Justice that in the following divorce oases no defence will be ■ ofGredHastings James. Churchill v. Cissy Blanche Churchill and Henry McLeod; Victoria Milligan v. William John Milligan. NEW CASE TO BE STATED. Steps are being taken to have a new case stated relative to the charge against Edward Reynolds and Annie Peterson of having'used a pertain instrument for an unlawful purpose on a young girl. On Saturday last tho jury brought in a verdict of not guilty by direction of tho thief Justice, the reason tor the direction being tho lack of evidence corroborating the testimony of tho girl, whom tho law regards as an accomplice. It will now be contended that his Honor ought to have directed the jury that they were entitled to find the accused guilty on the uncorroborated testimony of the girl, even though she was iu a sense on accomplice.