SUPREME COURT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2908, 25 February 1893, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

VBR k-ltEHs ASSOCIATION. ~—-.— - <9 > ap'Xh, February 24. The cr , '-vl business of the Supreme Court waw concluded to-day. James Keardon, charged with unlawfully « ounding at Danevirke, was acquitted. Benjamin Goodman, charged with larceny as a bailee, also got off. A peculiar point was partly argued today. Yesterday a man whs charged with stealing a cheque for £20. When he stole it he bought some boots at Hannah's, getting the balance io cash. He then went to the office of Mr Waetney. solicitor. He was out, but the nun told the clerk that he would be arrested for stealing the cheque, and deposited £10 for his defence, leaving instructions for Mr Wastney to see him in gaol if he weie arrested. Mr Wastney thought he had - better not appear under the circumstances, and another solicitor was engage i in the Resident Magistrate's Court. The Justice* admitted the evidence oi Mr Wastney's clerk, despite a legal protest that the communication was privileged. In the Supreme Court the prosecution again tendered this evidence, and the Chief Justice ruled that it was not privileged, and decided to admit it. The prisoner thereupon pleaded guilty. To-day Mr Saiosbury, on behalf of Alexander Grant, drawer of the cheque, and from whom it was stolen, applied that the £10 in Mr Wastney's hands and the balance of cash found on the prisoner should be handed over to Grant. Hw Honor said that if the cheque had not been cashed he would have made an order, but it was now questionable .as to whom the money properly belonged, and the application was adjourned.