CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12603, 5 March 1903, Page 5

CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

■<*- (Per United Press Association'.) INVKRCARGILL, March 4. At the Supreme Court to-day two young fellows named Wm. Little and Fred Rodgers were charged with assaulting and robbing Maurico Gorman on a train between Thornbury and Makarewa. Prosecutor bad £11 in notes on him. He is an old man, of peculiar disposition, and got into an altercation wit n accused, which ended in-a scufflo on (he floor of tho carriage, Rodgers being on top, and some blood flowed. At Makarewa Gorman got off tho train, threw himself on the ground, and cried that he had been robbed. About the same time Rodgors handed to one Shields what he took to be paper money, Shields, hearing Gorman's complaint, suspected it was his money he hold, and wished to hand it back to Rodgers, hut was told to keep it till next day, and that it was not- Gorman's moiicy. Farther on Shields got llodgors to take back the notes. Soon after some children found two five and one pound notes in a matchbox in the cattlc stop at Grasmcre, the first station from town. No one knew what banks Gorman's notes were on, but those found were of tho same denomination. Shiclds's evidence was only extracted from him piecemeal at three sittings of the lower court, his reason for rcticcncc being that he was afraid he might incriminate himself. His Honor, referring to Gorman's cantankerous behaviour, said the charge of assault was weak, and the jury found both accused not guilty of both charges. (From Our Own Correspondent.) INVKRCARGILL. March 4. A singular state of affairs has arisen in conncction with the case of Dr Fullarton, charged with illegal practice. The foreman of the Grand .Tnry endorsed the bill in this case a true bill yesterday morning. To constitute tho bill a true bill 12 grand jurymen must vote for it. It having become known to the Crown solicitor. Mr T. M. Mac Donald, that only 10 votes, including tho foreman's casting vote, were cast for a, true bill, bo this morning filed a notice of motion to quash the indictment, on the ground that in the face of this knowledge it would not be proper for tho Crown to go on. If tho motion is acceded to the position will he tho same as if tho'bill had been thrown out. It is ouitc within the power of the Crown to institute fresh proceedings, but so far no intimation has been given that it is proposed to do so. The matter will be thrashed out in court to-morrow.