SUPREME COURT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8366, 28 February 1913, Page 9

SUPREME COURT

, Frees Aaeociatioeu BLENHEIM, Febniaty 27The Supreme Court criminal session* opened to-day, before Mr Justice Chapman. In has address to the grand jury, the Judge congratulated the district on the fact that they had only one bill before them. This was a ease against Jehu Francis O’Keefe, charged with theft of a mail bag from the Molesworth coach in January last. The bag was found in soma scrub. It had been opened and the letters torn and scattered about. Accused was alleged to haye been eecu going toward* the scrub with something under his coat. In this case the jury returned a verdict that the evidence was act safiacient to convict, and the prisoner vw discharged. The election petition case Sinclair ▼, Vavasour and W, Pollard, a claim for balance of petitioning solicitor’■ fee in reference to the petition against the return of Mr McQallum for Warau at last election, was adjourned by mutual consent till the June sitting. WANGANUI, February XL An old wan named Almnwudnr Waugh was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with hard labour by. Sir Robert Stout at the Supremo Court this rooming for attempted indecent assault on a little girl, INVERCARGILL, February 27- , The Supremo Court was engaged for. two days in hearing the case of William Taylor versos Campbell Brothers, a claim for £SOO damages for the death of plaintiff's son, who was employed by defendants at Wyndham. The defendants had sent the boy with a horse and dray to cart a can of water Irom Mataura river. The boy got into difficulties, and the result was that ha was drowned and the horse and dray washed down the stream. Plaintiff alleged that defendants had acted negligently in sending the, boy to perform such work in view of the dangerous condition of the stream. The defence was that there had been no negligence and that the occurrence was an accident which could not have been foreseen by an ordinary careful man. The jury found for defendants, with costs.