SUPREME COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19475, 9 May 1925, Page 7

SUPREME COURT.

(Before His Honor Mr Justice Sim.) PURCHASE OF A LAUNCH. Mr Justice Sim sat at the Supremo Court yesterday morning. The only matter brought before his Honor was a claim for tho payment of £259, being the balance owing for tho jmrchase of a launch. The plaintiff was Robert Cunningham Miller, and the defendant Thomas Parker. Mr R. S. Bremner (instructed by Mr Gillies) appeared for the plaintiff, and there was no appearance on the other side. Mr Bremner stated that defendant had filed a defence, but there was no appearance in support, of it. On October 14 last at Port Chalmers tho defendant wanted to purchase a boat, and entered into negotiations with Mr Miller (plaintiff). He got into contact with plaintiff,' and through the medium of a Mr Coleman he had purchased a launch for £240. Defendant had not been satisfied as .to the condition of the engine on the launch, and he got Mr Coleman to have a look at tho engine. Mr Coleman was satisfied that the engine was in good order, and the purchase was agreed upon at £2OO, and a dejipsit of £1 was paid through the medium of Mr Coleman. The only ground that could possibly affect the position was that the.defendant was unable to pay tho purchase money. Evidence was given by plaintiff, contractor and shipwright of Port Chalmers, who stated that the purchase money was £240, and that Coleman had been paid £1 as a deposit. Archibald Coleman, motor mechanic, said that defendant had come to him and asked him if ho knew of a motor boat suitable for work at Wellington. Witness had referred defendant to plaintiff, and hod said that he (plaintiff) had a boat such as defendant required. Defendant had asked if tho engine was all right, and witness had examined it, but had refused to give any guarantee concerning it, and had finally referred defendant to plaintiff in regard to the matter. Defendant was anxious as to tho engine, and wanted him (witness) to give an assurance that the engine was all right. His Honor gave judgment for plaintiff for £239, with costs according to scale; disbursements and witness’s expenses to be fixed by the Registrar. His Honor did not include in his judgment anything for interest.

IN' OTHER CENTRES. (Pza United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Mav 8. In the Supreme Court Robert Heaton Munro and Daniel Thomas Flynn pleaded guilty to 17 charges of breaking and entering and theft, and the conversion of stolen property. They were remanded for sentence till Monday. PALMERSTON N., May 8. In the Supreme Court, two prisoners, Thomas Higgins, alias John Patrick Higgins, and Ray Buckley, alias Molly Riley, were charged with receiving money, knowing it to have been stolen. The former was ordered to be detained in a certified inebriates’ homo for two years, and also to pay the cost of prosecution. The latter,, whom the jury recommended for mercy, was granted probation on certain conditions. Robert Bowden and Denolm Gillespie were sentenced to two years. Detective Holmes said that the evidence showed that Bowden had a bad record. Counsel for Gillespie said that the latter belonged to a very respectable family. Until the last few years he had had an unblemished record. Douglas Gordon Hollis, who pleaded guilty in the lewer court to the theft of a mail bag and contents, valued at £l3O. handed his Honor a written statement, and promised to go straight after any term of imprisonment .inflicted. The judge said ho could not grant probation as the letters had been destroyed. He imposed a sentence of 12 months’ reformative detention. A girl, aged seventeen, whose name was ordered to bo suppressed, was charged with opening a postal packet, and was admitted to probation. ' 'William Ross was found not guilty on a charge involving the theft of a mail bag and contents, valued at £l3O, at Mangero, near Shannon, in March of last year.