SUPREME COUBT SITTINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2779, 19 June 1907, Page 33

SUPREME COUBT SITTINGS.

AUCKLAND, June 4. John Bennett, a middle-aged man, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for criminally assaulting a Maori girl. William James Lyons, convicted of perjury, was sent to prison for six months. June 12. In the Supreme Court this morning Mr Justice Denniston presided over the retrial of John Soloma-n Taylor on a charge of wilfully poisoning a horse at Hamilton. The jury had disagreed when accused came before the court a fortnight ago. The evidence was to the effect that a gelding owned by Alfred John Searle, boardinghouse keeper, became ill, and accused, who lived with Searle, went to a chemist for a drench. He inquired of an assistant how much arsenic it would take to knock over a horse, and on the same night he purchased four ounces of poison from another chemist. The horse died the next day, and it was found that death was due to arsenical poisoning. The accused's explanation of his purchase was that he bought the arsenic to kill rats at Searle's house. He was found guilty, and was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment. June 15. In the case in which Edward Maurice Burkhardt (etoreman), of Auckland, petitioned for a divorce from his wife, Mildred Emma Louise Victoria Burkhardt, James Butler (hawker) being named ac co-respondent, the jury found for the petitioner, and a decree nisi was granted, with costs against the co-respondent. PALMERSTON N., June 12. At the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr Justice Cooper, Patrick Brosnaghan was found guilty on a charge of false pretences, and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. A case of indecent assault was adjourned till the next sitting in September owing to the principal witness — a little girl — contracting measles. Charles Duncan pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting and robbing F. N. Bevins of £16 16s and a gold watch at Dannevirke on April 5. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. Luther Martin Murray was charged with being an accomplice in the same offence, and he pleaded not guilty. Evidence at considerable length was taken. Duncan in his evidence stated that tho accused took the money and he took the watch and chain. He admitted that they were all under the influence of drink at the time. The accused Martin strongly denied the offence, and 6aid that he knew nothing about the robbery until the next day, when he was arrested. A verdict of not guilty was returned. BLENHEIM, June 12. In the Supreme Court to-day John Moore, alias George Johnston, was sentenced to 12 months for the theft of money from lodgers at the Commercial Hotel on May 10. No bills were returned in the cases of Rex against Wells Bros (alleged 1 sheepstealing) and George Gibson (alleged land dummyism). CHRISTCHURCH. June 12. Walter Lilley and Thomas Moody, remanded from the lower court for sentence, having pleaded guilty to cliargve of burcrlarv. were sentenced to-day by Mr Justice Chapman to nine and six mouths respectively-, without hard labour Harry Rolls, for fraud, was 6ent to pn-on for &ix months with hard labour. TIMARV. Juno 4. The fitting of the Supremo Court opened here this niorninfr before Mr Justice W ll)iam«. The criminal calendar was a hjrht one, comprising only throe cases, but two lengthy civil cases are eft down for hoaring, and the Crown Solicitor will apply for writs of attachment ajrainst 13 slaughtermen's assistants at Pareora who hate fajk-d to pay the fines imposed upon them in connection with the recont strike. The Grand Jury found true bilk in the three cases presented and two trials were complcfcil In one case Honry Clifford was convicted of thoft of a swag, and, having throe previous convictions, was sentenced to six months' hard labour following on four months' imprisonment awaiting trial. In a change of foraerv and uttering

at Methven, an alibi was proved, and prisoner was discharged. INVERCARGILL June 6. The Supreme Court was occupied nearly all day hearing an appeal by Mrs M'Auliffe against the decision of Mr M'Carthy, S.M., in the Shamrock sly-grog case. The hearing took the form of a re-tirial, and evidence was called on both sides. Mr Justice Chapman reserved his decision. Two motions came before the judge in respect to the ship Stephano Razetto, the effect of which is that matters are now settled in the action in respect of the arrest of the ship under Lloyd's bottomry bonds, and that all parties are discharged therefrom with the exception of the ship and freight, and the cargo of two consignees which i» still under arrest, owing to these consignees having failed to make any satisfactory arrangements -nith plaintiffs. The case will come before the court again at Dunedin on Tuesday, when it is understood the plaintiffs intend to proceed to trial in the action.