SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15063, 9 February 1911, Page 7

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

(Pes United Pbess Association.)

AUCKLAND, February 8. A> decree nisi was granted to Thomaa Donovan, saddler, against his wife on the ground of misconduct witih William Robertson, with ■whom Donovan alleged his wife went through a bigamous marriage in January, 1904; to Frank Clarke, of Waihi, against Mary Ann Clarke, misconduct; to John Marshall, of Kawakowa, against Hilda Marshall, misconduct with John Smeath; to Ernest Arthur Carter against Ellen Maud Carter, desertion; to Margaret Stewart against William Stewart, of Dunedin, misconduct and desertion.

WELLINGTON, February 8. In sentencing Henry Joseph Clements to eight months' imprisonment for assaulting Vance Clifford Hickok on the head with a bottle, Mr Justice Chapmra said: " The jury brought in a verdict of common assault, but I cannot shut my eyes to tho fact that what they chooee to term common .assault caused serious injuries. No doubt the true explanation is that tha jury, who have been out for three hours, had. a difficulty in arriving at unanimity, and that was tho best result that could be produced under the drcumstanoes. Where a man used a dangerous weapoa it is a case for imprisonment, and I must inflict a'substantial sentence in.this case." The prisoner, whese age is 24, burst into tcare.

CHRISTCHURCH, February 8. William Pitcaithley, shipping and. Customs agent,; to-day appeared on a charge of serious assault on a givl in his employThe Crown Prosecutor, in opening the case, said that the complainant's • story, would be corroborated by two boys who had witnessed tho incident on? which the charge was based. After the hearing of evidence was concluded, the court adjourned till to-morrow. A verdict of "Not guilty" was returned by.the juxy : in the case in which William Linton was charged with intent to commit rape.