MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1607, 14 February 1925, Page 5

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

FINE OF £l5O IMPOSED.

(By Telegraph. Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Friday.

William Pitman, land agent, appeared in the Supreme Court dock this afternoon, before Mr Justice Reed, to receive sentence on a charge of manslaughter in respect to an episode in Upper Queen Street, when accused’s car knocked down a young woman, who subsequently died. Mr Sellar suggested that a fine would meet the ends of justice. Counsel reminded the Judge that the jury had returned a very strong recommendation to mercy. Mr Sellar suggested that public opinion was with Pitman. His Honour said public opinion should not carry any weight. Pitman was fined £l5O, and ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution. One week was allowed in which to pay. The default was fixed at three months’ imprisonment. A FINE OF FIFTY POUNDS. i AUCKLAND, Friday. George Denton (Mr Northcroft), on a charge of manslaughter of a tramway motorman in Great South Road, was fined £SO, and was allowed one month in which to pay the fine. His Honour said that he did not look upon this case as being as serious as that of Pitman’s. SUTHERLAND FOUND GUILTY. DUNEDIN, Friday. Philip Gordon Sutherland (21) found guilty of manslaughter in ■connection with a drunken affray at Christmas, resulting in the death of John James Ryan, who was kicked in a vital spot, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. The Judge remarked that the accused didn’t begin the quarrel, but he described it as “a piece of cowardly brutality.”