SUPREME COURT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 2, 18 August 1911, Page 4

SUPREME COURT.

WELLING TON SESSIONS. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, August 17. Charles Dane, a man of weak in-irlL-ct, was sentenced to imprisonment for life by Mr Justice Chapman tin's afternoon. The crime is of an unmentionable character. His Honor (to Mr Ostler, Crown Prosecutor): “What, is known of accused ?” Al l* Ostler: “He was found guilty of attempted rape at Nelson fourteen years ago.” “Without exception,” declared his Honor, “this is the most shocking case that has ever come before me. You have admitted that guilt of a crime which, next to murder, is one of tiro most greivous known to our law. Within my recollection men wore put to death for committing that crime. The law is more merciful now, and does not permit this, but it still regards it as one of the most grievous, and prescribes the severest punishment short of death.” The Grand Jury, added his Honor, had recommended him to inflict flogging in crimes on young people, but he did not propose to do this on account of the severity of the sentence he would inflict and from the excuse that prisoner had had accidents and did, things for which lie could not account.

•‘Bolts and bars,” added his Honor, “must i)e placed between prisoner and any possible victim.” “The sentence of the Court,” ho concluded, “is that you be imprisoned with hard labour for the rest of your life.” A youth named Alfred Ernest Kocblc, aged 20 years, who has had an exceedingly bad record, having been arrested for vagrancy when ho was seventeen and for assaulting his mother (a very bad affair) when he was nineteen, was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment with hard labour for administering a noxious drug to a gii-I who lived near Pahiatua and for carnal knowledge.

His Honor characterised the offence in exceedingly strong terms. Edward Reynolds and Annie Peterson were charged with having used an instrument for an illegal purpose. Mr Ne.ave prosecuted for the Crown, and Mr Wilford appeared for Reynolds and Mr Herdman for Peterson. Accused had been tried together at the last criminal sessions and the jury had returned a verdict of “not guilty” by direction of the judge. Mr N'eavo applied for a new trial on the ground of misdirection by the judge, holding that the accused musd. be acquitted owing to lack of corroborative evidence and also because the judge had refused permission for the accused to be tried separately. The Court of Appeal had ordered a new trial and he (Mr Ncave) was of opinion that the trials should be separate to-day. Mr Wilford applied for a separate trial for Reynolds, which was granted. Peterson’s'' case was taken first, and Reynolds released on his own recognisances till Friday morning. After hearing evidence the jury retired for four hours,' when the foreman reported there was no possibility of agreement. An order for a new trial was made.

A DIVORCE CASE. Auckland, August 17. A petition in divorce lodged by Stanley Herbert Carr, storekeeper, of Marakopa, near Kaiwhia, for dissolution of bis marriage with Eliza Carr, boardinghouse keeper in the same district, was heard by Mr Justice Edwards to-day. Desertion was submitted as the grounds for the application. The parties were married in 133 G, and lived together at Kaitaia, Onehunga, and Konohaku, the petitioner keeping a store at the Jatter place and his wife a boardinghouse. There were three children of the marriage, t lie youngest being 14 years of age. On one occasion a dance was held at the boardinghouse, and respondent had nearly every dance with a settler of the district. “She had nearly every dance with him,” added the petitioner, “and in the morning I pointed out that I could not countenance conduct like that. She Hew into a passion, and said she wished I was dead, and that she would not live with me again.” He went on to say that she had never spoken to him since. Other evidence of desertion having been given, a decree nisi, to bo made absolute in three months, was granted.