SUPREME COURT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 35

SUPREME COURT.

PRISONERS SENTENCED. AUCKLAND, February 27. Henry Osman, aged 45, a labourer, was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment for bigamy. He married first in 1914 and contracted a bigamous marriage with a young girl last October. Mr Justice Reed said: “The girl you married last year was under age, and apparently the sole reason you married her was to avoid imprisonment for carnal knowledge.” James Raymond Slattery, aged 21, on 16 charges of theft, was sentenced r o five years’ hard labour, the accused having a bad record extending back to 1923. William Maddison Alt, aged 40, a motor mechanic, who pleaded guilty to three charges of obtaining money by false pretences, was ordered to be detained for not less than two years for reformative purposes. The sum of £1564 was involved, and £7OO in Alt’s possession was ordered to be handed over. Joseph L. Lettica, for breaking and entering and theft at Dargaville, was ordered to be detained for one year for reformative purposes. Fiancis Halligan, aged 30, for theft of money at Hamilton, was sentenced to two years’ hard labour. INVERCARGILL SESSIONS.

INVERCARGILL, February 27. The Supreme Court sessions were opened to-day before Mr Justice Sim. There were no criminal cases for hearing. Prisoners were sentenced as follows: — Angus M'Neill, theft of two sums of each of £2O from the Riversdale Post Office, released on probation for three years. Albert Sharp and Robert Summerville Lawrence, breaking and entering, each three years’ probation. A claim for £lOOO general damages and £l2O 12s hospital fees was upheld by the jury in the case of John Herbison Kerr v. David Baird. Plaintiff, a school boy, was cycling along the Oreti Beach road to Invercargill on May 9 last, when defendant, the driver of a motor lorry, overtook him and ran him down, inflict inq severe injuries to his right leg, the calf being torn away. Medical evidence attested that tire boy would probably lose his leg below the knee, and. even' if it were not amputated, be would never regain the full use of it. HAMILTON. February 28. The Supreme Court sessions were opened to-day before Mr Justice Blair. There wore 12 criminal cases for trial. Edward William Slattery Corless. a young man. was charged thaL with intent to break prison, ho attempted to render Warder John Kennedy incapable of »e--sistance. causing him actual bodily harm, and also with common assault. The prisoner conducted his own defence, putting the warder through a rigorous cross-exami-nation. At a sitting of the Supreme Court Raymond Charles Gifford wag acquitted on a charge of driving negligently and causing the death of Leslie Spencer. Leave to appeal was granted. Mr Justice Blair pointed out that the law on the question of contributory negligence in such cases was unsatisfactory, and he would appreciate a ruling of the Full Court on the matter. - Charles Henry Busten, on six charges of offences against boys, was sentenced to one year on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent, and was ordered to be de tained for four years for reformative treatment. THE OAMARU CALENDAR. The following is a list of the business to come before Mr Justice Siin at the sittings of the Supreme Court at Oaniaru, commencing to-morrow:— CRIMINAL. John Guillemot, indecent assault on a female. Frank Murray (Air A.. C. Hanlon), carnal knowledge (three charges), attempted carnal knowledge (one charge). Alary Jane Clark (Air A. C. Hanlon), illegal operation and manslaughter. CIVIL. (Before his Honor the judge and a jury of 12.) The Kurow A'lot-or Garage and Service Company. Ltd. (Air Hjorring) v. Winsley Bros. (Air Hamilton), alleged libel, damages £3OO. Munro (Air Hjorring) v. Winsley Bros. (Air Hamilton), alleged libel, damages £3OO. (Before the judge alone.) Smart (Air Hjorring) v. Chilcott (Air Grater), alleged seduction, damages £4OO. Martin (Air Paterson) v. Hall (Mr Hjorring), alleged negligence in driving motor car, damages £3OB.