SUPREME COURT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1979, 7 December 1889, Page 1

SUPREME COURT.

Wellington, Dec. 4i. Joseph Ward pleaded not guilty to the indictment charging him with committing a criminal assault on a girl 15 years of age. The jury could not agree and were locked up for the night. William Gilmour alias Robert Murray was found not guilty of committing rape on a Maori woman, the wife of a European at Eoxton, but guilty of attempted rape. Sentence was deferred. Dec.s.

William Gilmour alias Murray, for attempted rape on a Maori woman at Foxton,recieved two years’ hard labour. After two hours’ deliberation the jury in the case of Ward, charged with attempted rape, returned a verdict that they found the prisoner not guilty of attempted rape, but considered that he was guilty of an indecent assault of a mild nature. His Honour asked the foreman to state more explicitly what the jury meant. The foreman explained that they were of opinion that the prisoner had kissed the girl, but had taken no indecent liberties with her. The Chief Justice held that such an act did not constitute an Indecent assault, even although the man had kissed the girl against her will, and directed the jury that if they were still of the same mind to return a verdict of common assault. The jury again retired, and after a few minutes brought iu a verdict in accordance with His Honour’s suggestion. Prisoner’s counsel applied to have him released on probation, and His Honour said that he would take time to consider the matter. Nelson, Dec. 4. There were only three prisoners for trial, Peter Alexander Thompson, for forgery, was put under probation. Charles Sydney Clifford Herman for embezzling at Charleston (West Coast) the moneys of the district hospital board was found guilty, and comes up for sentence in the morning. Dunedin. Dec. 5. At the Supreme Court John Ross for indecent assault was sentenced to six months.