SUPREME COURT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13394, 30 May 1914, Page 6

SUPREME COURT.

JUDGE AND JURY.

(Per Press Association.)

/WANGANUI, last night. . At the Supreme Court to-day a young man named Austin Henry Bruen stood trial for. the second time on charges: (1) Attempting to carnally know a... girl under I{> years; (2) indecent assault; (3) common, assault.

After three hours' retirement the jury returned, with the following verdict: Not gudlt^ of carnal knowledge; not guilty of indecent ' assault ; guilty of common .assault. . .r-^. i . v : . • Mr Justice . Edwards declined to accept «the verdict, on the ground that it was' illogical. . . -. The jury retired for. three-quarters of an hour, when they returned with the following verdict : Not guilty on 'h* first count, they disagved on the second count, and foumd a verdict of guilty r n the thirds count, with a recdmun tnc'ajion to mercy. ' ■ ■ V The judge again' declined ■to Q<cert such a vierdict,. and the jury on*» iik-to retired, and, after a quarter of an hour, returned with' a verdict oi not gu;iiy. on all counts.

Mr Justice Edwards, 1 addreasng Bruen, said: "The jury has disbeliev.sd your own statements made on oath. I recommend you to be, more careful, for you/may not ;find that another jury will disbelieve you." Prisoner and theCiury were^then discharged. . ■ '. t ■■•... .Prisoner, addressing the jury,, said: "Gentlemen, I thank you." , Mi- Justice Edwards : Prisoner at,.tl.e bar, you are fined £5 for .contempt t,f Court. ' . '

Prisoner's counsel pleaded "" for a 1 remision of the fine, but the judge ordered payment forthwith, arid promised to hear counsel^ next, inorning. » In the case in which Mrs .Mulliner claimed £1000 damages from J. Ivtss for injuiries sustained aA'a result of :u' leged wrongful conduct \>f a serious nature, Sir John Findlay,v for defendant, asked for an adjournment till next sitting, as. two important witnesses were ill and could not attend. Mr Wilford objected, but Mr Jtusiice Edwards granted the adjournment. v A decree nisi was 1 granted in the divorce case, Florence May Gordon v Matthew J. Gordon, on tihe grounds of drunkenness and desertion.