SUPREME COURT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13396, 20 September 1907, Page 6

SUPREME COURT.

Fer Press Association. GISBORNE, Sept-eiftber 19. The Supreme -Court criminal sessions uere opened to-day before Mr Justice Dennis'ton, who commented on the- fact that the calendar was of a wry mild character, and there were no sexual offences. In the case against- ■ William Charles Whitfield, charged with perjury regarding the theft of a case of beer the jury disagreed. In the case James, and Robert I.e?le charged with assault on John Middleton the jury had not brought- in a verdict wh-sn""th-3 Court rose. Oliver Goldsmith pleaded guilt}* to horse-stealing, and sentence was deferred. In the case against Charles Single charged with horse-stealing the jury were still out when the Court rose. WELLINGTON, September 19. A caw before the Supreme Court today is tliE> sequel to the fatal accident at Minimal- in November last, when a carter named Corfield, employed by John Keir, was killed by a " live" electric light wire lying across the road, which he went to lift out of the way. Keir is now suing tliei Electric Light Company for £IOO, being the amount which his insurance company, had paid Corfield's widow. Negligence on the part of the Electric Company is alleged. At the conclusion of the- evidence for thi plaintiff, Mr Skerrett asked for an adjournment in- order it,hat corroborative evidence might- be obtained from Sydney as to the marriage between the deceased and Mrs Corfield, and lur dependence upon him. After isome argument, it was agretd that the witnesses for the defence should be railed without prejudice to Mr Myejii' right to address th-j Court or move for a noßjuit. His Honour reserved his decision upon the application for an adjournment. Evidence was then called on bzlialf of the defendant company. It went to show that the wire was properly insulated, and was stretched from pole to pole at a reasonable and wife height from the roadway. The case i.'tands adjourned eino die.

HOKIXIKA, September 10. At tlie Supreme Court. to-day Mr Justice Chapman congrattdatc:! i he Grand Jury on tlie very light calendar presented, which, lie said, testified to the law-abiding character of the people of the district. A young man lately employed in the laihvav service came up for sentence for theft from n train and persons at Reefton, a conviction being recorded on prisoner's own confession. On the first- charge prisoner was admitted to two years' probation, and on tiie other two charges was ordered to come iij> for sentence when called upon. The only lemaining criminal ens? was a charge against an aged Chinaman of unnatural offence. The ease was heard behind closed doors, and the prisoner. Ah Foo. was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, the .Judge remarking thai he v.a ■■ r.oi fit to he at large. In ihe Supreme Court this al'i'-ninou the liiva'-li of promise ease Ami Murdoch, of DiHrnaiis. versus John Hanna. a farmer of Sefton. C;i;iterburv, claim £SOO damages was heard before Mr Justice Chapman without a. jury. The case was dismissed without costs tlie Judge holding thai plainvi!l' failing to corroborate, her version it wa* fatal. DUXKDJX. -September 19. "Mr Jr.sti'V Williams allowed (he appeal oil i!i- judgment by Mr Widdowson. !-'.M., in favour of the Cpvent Harden

Bakery Company. Some lime ago the defendant and other bakers were proceedi.d against oil charge of selling light weight and unstamped bread. Some charges were dismissed on the ground that- the informations had nut been laid within 72 hours of the commission of the. oiiVnoe as provided for in th-e Adulteration Prevention Act, 1880. His Honour held that tli-a provision of section 28, necessitating three days' limitation in laying informations did not apply to informal ion 5 laid under the 1895 Act, and that an information could 1 be laid within, six montlis of the commission of the offence. ammiuMMßnaMaMi