SUPREME COURT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 9722, 16 May 1918, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

GJHWINAL SESSIONS. TTMAUU, TUESDAY, MAY 14,1018. vßdoru Jlis Honour Mr Justice Simi.;)', The Grand Jury, of which Mr ■ f-*’* It. M. Jones was foreman, found a li|Uo Bill in each case. INDECENT ASSAULT. , Daniel Lynch, a y o uth of B) years, was charged with having indecently assaulted a girl of seven years ol age, at Maliikihi. lie pleaded guilty, and was represcaled by Mr Campbell, -who a s W that he be admitted to probation. *r With the consent of his parents 110 had enlisted, an earnest to atone for the wrong he had doneThe police report was good, and the Sergeant-Major oif tha Territorials and accused’s employer gave him a good character. , His Honour said he thought ho would be justified in granting the application. Accused would be released on probation for two, years, daring which time he would require to be ot good behaviour, the probation ofheer to' allow the accused to serve as ' a soldier with the Expeditionary Forces. Accused would be ordered to pay costs of live prosecution.—£9 Fla (id. THEFT. John Cranston (Air Campbell) pleaded guilty to the theft of £3 and a pair of boot laces froml P W aß named Wilson at Ashburton.’ In this case also Mr Campbell applied fot probation. Testimonials as to his character were.good, i Air White offered no objection to probation being granted. His Honour admitted accused to probation for two years, and ordered him to pay the costs of the prosecution, £ll 3s Bd, and to refund to IV ils on the C 3 he had stolen from him. A SHOOTING CASE. Charles Boyes was charged with wounding Mason Boko (a Maori') with intent to do grievous bodily harm, under such ciicmnstanees that if death had been caused aecuSlld would have been guilty of man-

-daughter. Mr .1. W. White appeared for’. kho prosecution, and Mr Campbell fof the accused, who pleaded not guiltjV 'the evidence went to show that accused, Boko, and a farm labourer named David M,oLa e , were in. tlte accused's hut on die night oi, the shooting, singing and drinking, c " cording to Boko, about midnight accused said lie wanted to go to b»J> and told Boko* to go, or he would shift him, and he then went to his bedroom. Mcl.au and Bok.'o remained in the kitchen drinking. A few seconds iater accused came out of his room, holding, a revolver, and threatened to shift Boko if he did not go. Accused tired, but missed Boko ; ha fired again, and this time the bullet struck Boko near the mouth, smashing the molar teeth on one

hitler and inflicting, a dangerous wound. Bok Q had to be taken to a lucsgittjj, and was there for some time,. dim accused’s version of the- affair was that at 11.30 he went co bed, telling the other two to 'gel. away homo. .Vs they did not go, so •witness panto out of ids rooim, and ordered them away again. Boko throw his hat and coat on the floor, and would have struck witness had he not dodged him. Witness then went back to his bedroom again to get his little revolver, thinking to frighten Boko aw ay. He fired . one shot into the ceiling, and this

did not frighten 8010 off witness pushed him into the porch with one hand,. the revolver being in hia other hand. Boko struggled Gwith him, knocked his arm up, and caused tho revolver to go off accidentally. Witness did not know that the bullet had hit Boko till the next day, when tin; Police-arrested him. Asked why ho had not stated before that tho shooting was accidental, the a«cused replied .that, ho had not bnca asked the question. Counsel having addressed .'the Court, Ilis Honour summed up. 'JJio Jury retired at 5 p.m., and returned at 5.10 p.m, with a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner was discharged.

J-fco Court was occupied -yestoday ji hearing ;i charge of 'false pjrotcnccs preferred against William do Winter, lor obtaining a cheque l„r ,Cs<) 15/0, and a second one for X 23 15/6, by representing goods sold to Ml's J. S. (tuthcrforcl and others at Albury, as Irish linen, and which, it w fl s contended by (he Crown Prosecutor, wens «ot us represented. The accused was defended by Mr .V. Jianlon, of Dunedin.