SUPREME COURT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 5, 22 August 1911, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

o WELLINGTON SESSION. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, August 21. The Supremo Court criminal sittings were continued this morning before Mr Justice Sira. Annie Peterson was charged with unlawfully using an instrument. The case was heard last session, but the Full Bench afterwards ordered a new trial on the ground that the jury had been misdirected. The new trial took place Inst week, but the jury disagreed, and a further trial was ordered before a fresh jury. Mr Neavc prosecuted for the Crown, and Mr Hcrdman was for the defence. In selecting a jury, Mr Herdman challenged six jurors, the maximum for a defence, and Mr Neavc twelve. -At the end of four and a quarter hours tho jury could not agree, and Mr Neavc applied for a new trial. If a now trial is decided on, it will take place to-morrow.

Alfred Eritis, a coloured man, was charged with selling beer without a license at Wellington on June 4. As ho had been twice convicted of a similar offence, he elected to be tried by a jury. Evidence was given that two constables, disguised as man-o’-wars-mon, visited a house in Taranaki stieet, and the proprietor sold them beer, which he got from Eritis next door. The case had not concluded wh.m the Court rose. PAIMERSTON NORTH SKS^iONS. Palmerston N., August 21. The Supreme Court sittings opened to-day the Chief Justice 'Sir R. Storm) presiding. True bills were rein ’nod in each case.

Tho whole day was occupied in hearing a charge of assault with intent against Cornelius Murphy,. James McKenzie, and Frederick Richard Kinchant. Tho assault was alleged to have been committed on Alfred Badcock and to have arisen out of a row at the opening of Troy’s billiard room at Mataroa, followed by three men attacking Badcock at his house with fists, hoots and a hammer, splintering his jaw and inflicting other injuries. Tho defence was that it was Badcock who had the hammer, and that Murphy had taken it from him and hit him with his fist. There wafe a large amount of evidence, nearly everyone being accused of drunkenness, and the Chief Justice commented on the manner in which liquor was so freely obtained where there was apparently no license. The Chief Justice summed up strongly against the accused, but the jury, after being locked up for four hours to-night, disagreed. Tho Crown Prosecutor applied for a new trial.

MORE TIME WANTED.

FOR SUPREME COURT. (Per Press Association.) Palmerston, August 22. At tho Supreme Court this morning Sir Robert Stout remarked, apropos of the heavy Court list, that tho Court would have to sit early and late to get through. It was evident that Palmerston was becoming so important that an extension of time would have to bo granted for Supreme Court sittings.