SUPREME COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10684, 3 February 1913, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

[Per PeEsSs Association.] AUCKLAND, 'February. 3. At" the -Supreme'Court- Robert Coe applied for a divorce from Mary Jane Coe, alleging misconduct with Peter Piley. The wife came to the dominion as an assisted, immigrant and the alleged impropriety took plate on the voyage-and at Wellington. Decree nisi was granted with damages at £250 against the co-respondent Piley, the petitioner getting the custody of the children. The case was undefended.

WELLINGTON, February 3. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court opened before Mr Justice Chapman, who, in his charge to the Grand Jury, said that the list of cases was not large, and none presented any complications. Comparison with a few years back showed a diminution in the number of cases, which was partly due to the operation of laws respecting habitual criminals ' and reformative treatment, which had convinced a number of persons that a criminal career was not a profitable business, and he did not think that New Zealand received so many criminals from the other side as formerly. Albert Henry Palmer, on a charge of theft, was ordered to be detained for two years for reformative treatment. Horace J. Richards, for forgery, was ordered six months' reformative treatment. A novel point was raised by Mr Neavo, counsel for a prisoner in" the Supreme Court to-day. He contended that his client must be discharged, as the law-.regarding committal for trial had not been strictly complied with, in that the witnesses' depositions had not been read over to him. Mr Justice Chapman said that the same point would probably apply to most of the prisoners who had been committed during the last twenty years. He ruled that the prisoner was properly before the Court on the presentment of the Grand Jury. If ho thought it necessary, after going further into the matter', he would bring the point before the Appeal Court.