SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2818, 18 March 1908, Page 69

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

GISBORNE, March 11. In the Supreme Court case Williams and Kettle y. Morice Bros., a claim for £679 commission on the sale of station property, the jury returned a three-fourths verdict for the plaintiff. Judgment was entered up for the full amount. At the Supreme Court to-day Richari "Webb was convicted of attempting to carnally know a girl under 12 years of age, and was remanded for sentence. John M'Kenzie, charged with criminal libel, was found guilty, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. . NAPIER, March 10. At the Supreme Court George Adams was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for attempting to do grievous bodily harm by striking a man with an axe. Counsel fojr the accused submitted four letters testifying that Adams was of good ' character, but the police report showed 12 convictions for various offences, and his Honor commented strongly on the ease with which such testimonials were obtained. David Davis Trow was acquitted on a charge of indecently assaulting a girl. Sidrey Robert Lean was acquitted on a charge oi robbery from the person. In a retrial of the case of D. Tohill, who was charged with stealing a bicycle, the jury again failed to agree. NAPIER, March 13. At the Supreme Court to-day John M'Kenzie was convicted and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for perjury. A civil action, Official Assignee v. "Williams and Kettle (Ltd.) was heard, a-nd judgment was reserved. This was a case of some importance to stock agents, the claim being for tha repayment of the proceeds of a eale of cattle by" the defendant company acting under instructions from H. G. Harding, who was subsequently made a bankrupt. For the plaintiff it was contended that the cattle were the property of Harding, and the proceeds properly belonged to the bankrupt's creditor*. The defendants' case was- that a letter of instruction from Harding gave them the right to dispose of the cattle as security foi payment of his account, and to credit hia accounts with proceeds, which was done. PALMERSTON N., March 16. The criminal session of the Supreme Court opened here to-day before Mr Justice Cooper. His Honor congratulated the Grand Jury on the comparative absence of crime in the district. There were 13 charges against 12 persons, three of which were for assault either with intent or having caused bodily harm. The Grand Jury found "no true bill" in the case of Thomas W. Potts, charged with a breach of the Bankruptcy Act. . The Grand Jury found true bills in the following cases: — Edward Jones, alias Johns, indecent assault; Harry Deeley, theft; Robert MTlwaine, assault and causing actual bodily harm; Frederick James Symonds, assault and roUbery; Albert Duncan Brown, alias Browne, assault and robbery ; Francis Robert Linton, breach of the Bankruptcy Act. Harry Deeley, charged with the theft of 1 an overcoat containing a pocket-book with £10 and a pair of gloves, was found not guilty. Edward Jones, alias Johns, was found guilty of indecent assault on a little girl at Ashhurst, and will be brought up for son- i tence to-morrow. Richard M'llwaine was found not guilty of the charge of assaulting Robert Richardeon at Koeke.