SUPREME COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9172, 28 February 1908, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

IN CHAMBERS, Friday, February 28. (Before his Honor Mr Justice Denniston.) LEAVE TO APPLY FOR NEW TRIAL REFUSED.

His Honor read a judgment by his Honor Mr Justice Chapman in the case Rex v. Thomas Brown, in which application was made for leave to* move for a new trial, on the ground that the verdict convicting him was against the weight of evidence. The accused was tried on August 12, 1907, for attempted bestiality, and eonvicted ? and the evidence was quite sufficient, if the jury believed it, to establish the attempt. Three witnesses stated facts seen by themselves, which called upon the accused for an explanation. The accused abstained from giving evidence. If the verdict could* not b© criticised as one which reasonable men ought not to have found upon the evidence, it must stand. He did not think a reasonable case for Argument had arisen, and if counsel were asked to argue it he could find no reasonable or even plausible ground for suggesting that the verdict was not amply supported by the evidence. APPLICATIONS DEALT WITH. On the application of Mr Ross, letters of administration in the estate of the late Gertrude Hungerford were granted. On the motion of Mr Harper, leave Avas given to issue- a summons in the case Barrett v. Bivrke and others, to show cause why a fourth party notice should not b e served. An application by Mr Hunter for executors' commission in the estate of the lato Helen Mather Gualter was referred to the registrar to report. Probates were granted in the wills of Annie Bishop, deceased (Mr Wright), and Elizabeth Alexander, deceased, (Mr Slater). A summons for discovery in the case 1 of Hopkins v. Coverdale was granted on the application of Mr Russell. Mr Hunt applied for leave to make substituted service, in the case of Martin v. Martin (suit for restitution of conjugal rights). His Honor said he must withhold leave, pending further consideration.