SUPREME COURT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 89, 19 August 1913, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

A DRASTIC RULING. (Per Press Association.] 'Wellington, August 18. The hearing commenced in the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr- Justice Chapman, of a case in which John Fuller, junr, petitioned for a divorce from Gertrude Alice Fuller, on the grounds of adultery. Herbert Percy Adams, of Sydney, was cited as co-re-spondent. His Honor ordered the Court to bo cleared, and forbade the publication of the evidence as a whole, or any part of it. He also announced that although he could not prohibit the publication of the evidence or any portion of it in an outside country, he would hold responsible any person who transmitted it. The hearing is expected to occupy several days.

CHRISTCHURCH SESSIONS. Christchurch, August 18. In the Supreme Court, WTUiam Anderson was sentenced to ton years’ imprisonment and declared an habitual criminal, for an assault on a ten-year-oid girl. Frank Duffy and Mary Little w'ere each senetneed to two years’ imprisonment for stealing £ll 10s from Thomas White. Ellen Annie Cornwall, charged with bigamy, was convicted and ordered to Como up for sentence when- called upon. > ’ i SERVING WRITS IN DIVORCE.

Auckland, August 17. According to Mr'Justice Cooper, it is entirely improper for inquiry agents in serving writs in divorce proceedings on respondent women to seek admissions on allegations contained in the citation papers. The remarks made by his Honor followed on an .intimation by an agent, in evidence, chat he. had asked a women whether she had any admission to make. “It is utterly improper for an agent to go armed with a petition, and then ask the respondent woman if she has any confession to make. It is not a proper practice, and I will make it a rule not to accept such evidence unless it is supported by independent evidence. It is no part of the duty of a person .serving a .process.to extort any xdmissions.”

PALMERSTON NORTH. Palmerston N. August 19. There is a small criminal list at the Supremo Court which opened tO-day, but .the cases include : ai charge of raurddr against a Maori itvOf limn he the Te Orepfe tragedy at ithe bhd of Junfeq alsote charge of attefopts ed 'minder against; William Clefhens a hd'Elizabeth Ireland, the outcome of the Pukehinau sensation. Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice, is presiding. Later. The Grand Jury reduced the charge of murder against Peti Tetua, of Te Oreore, to one of manslaughter. The case is ! proceedings TEA * I!)