SUPREME COURT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 6, 23 August 1911, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

WELLINGTON SESSIONS. (Ter Press Association.) Wellington, August 22. The Supremo Court criminal sittings wore continued this morning before Mr, Justice Sim. Alfred Britis, the negro charged with sly-grog selling, was found not guilty. Edward Reynolds surrendered to his bail to stand his trial on charges of unlawfully using an instrument on a girl to procure a miscarriage, and with procuring Annie Peterson to commit sud i an offence, thereby becoming a party to such offence and guilty thereof. The prisoner was tried with Annie Peterson last session, and was acquitted by direction of the Judge, but the Full Court ordered a new trial on tho ground that tho Judge’s direction was erroneous at law. The case was heard in camera, Evidence was given by the girl that Reynolds procured an instrument, and told her how to use it, which she did without effect. He then took her to Peterson’s house, where an operation was performed. In cross-examination tho girl wept bitterly, but did not vary her story in the slightest degree. After a retirement of an hour and a quarter the jury returned a verdict of guilty. The prisoner made no sign of surprise or otherwise, c.yccpt that his' lips shut tightly and his face went deathly white, He was remanded till to-mor-row for sentence. William Allman Donning was charged with indecently assaulting a .child aged five years. Tho Court was cleared, the details being revolting. The jury, after a few minutes’ retirement, returned a verdict of guilty. It was stated that the prisoner was a married man with a wife and four children in Australia, whence he himself came some live years ago. Ho had a clean record, so far as tho police know, and it was suggested that a protracted drinking bout was the cause of his offence. The prisoner was sentenced to throe years’ imprisonment, with hard labour. DUNEDIN SESSIONS. Dunedin, August 22. At tho Supreme Court to-day William John Townley, cattle dealer, of Otago ■ Peninsula, claimed £5Ol damages from James Joseph Lyhon, also or tne Peninsula, on a charge ot slander. The words complained of were, “You have been stealing cattle for tho last fifty years.” Plaintiff was awarded £2oj with costs on tho lowest scale. ■ Decrees nisi were granted in tho following divorce cases, Marion Moriaud v. John Morland, desertion; John Reynolds v. Alice Reynolds, desertion. PALMERSTON NORTH SESSIONS. Palmerston North, August 22. In the Supreme Court to-day, before Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice, Frank P. Bruford, an ex-Ohiro Homo inmate, was found guilty of obtaining £l2 from William Dwyer, of HunterviJlo, by intimating that he had £2OOO in Dunedin. He was remanded till Thursday for sentence. Reno Amini, with eleven previous convictions, was found guilty of the theft of £2B from they person of Akonga Mold, and was sentenced to two years’ hard labor and declared a habitual, criminal. , John Robert McGregor and' Alexander Stanley Dickson were found guilty of assault and robbery of Nissou, and were remanded for sentence and probation report.