SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3002, 27 September 1911, Page 23

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

. NEW PLYMOUTH, September 20. At the Supreme Court to-day a young man named James Percy Wilkinson pleaded " Guilty " to the theft of a bicycle and forgery at Eltham. He was sentenced to six months' hard labour and reformative treatment for a term not exceeding three years. William Renata, a Maori, pleaded "Guilty" to the theft of a cheque and to having forged an endorsement at Raetihi. He was sentenced to six months' hard labour and ordered to be detained for reformative treatment for a period not exceeding three years. George Henry CLarry, a young man, came forward for trial on a charge of carnally knowing a girl under 16 years of age. He pleaded ." Guilty," putting in a written statement that he believed, the girl was over .ago and that he had since been married to her. He was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Nicholas Albert Maddren, charged with wilfully setting fire to a dwelling near Eltham last January, was acquitted. In the divorce case Wilkinson v. Wilkinson, a husband's petition for divorce on the grounds of adultery, a decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute in three months. The criminal session has finished, but there is a heavy list of civil cases. September 21. The Supreme Court to-day heard the claim of Wm. Humphries against the Westport Coal Company for £IOOO damages for injuries sustained by being knocked down and run over by one of the company's carts, thereby sustaining permanent injuries. The case lasted all day and a mass of evidence was taken, but the jury found no negligence on the part of the company's driver and found for the defendant. Mr Jellicoe appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Herd man for the defence. GISBOENE, September 20. At the Supreme Court to-da,y three men —Habgood, Brown, and Stewart—were acquitted on a charge of entering the premises of a widow at midnight and demanding food with intent to steal it. John Walker and Charles M'Rae were acquitted in a charge of false pretences in obtaining a cheque for £5 from Frank Pattulo, sheep farmer. GREYMOUTH, September 19. A libel action, A. C. Russell (Mayor) v. the Grey River Argus Co. (Ltd.) was heard at the Supreme Court to-day. Plaintiff claimed £IOOO damages. There were four counts, and the jury returned a verdict in favour of defendant on two counts, and for plaintiff with or/a shilling damages in one count, and for £lO

damages in the other count. In the casa Ellison v. the Dispatch Foundry, claim for £IOOO damages for the death of plaintiff's son by accident while employed with the defendant company, Mr Egan, on behalf of the plaintiff, agreed -on £4OO damages. Judgment was entered for that amount accordingly.