SUPREME COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 32, 7 February 1905, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

CniMTXAL SESSIONS. (Before Mr Justice Edwards.) BRITON V. GERMAN. August Broxahenske, for whom Mr rlronfeid interpreted in German, pleaded nor guilty to committing an assault and robbery on a man named Alexander Wilson at Raglan. Wilson in evidence said the accused stopped him on the road, put liim off his guard by asking who lived in a certain house, and then suddenly knocked him down and kicked him about the head. Witness besought him not to kill him. The assailant snatched away witness' watch and disappeared. Another witness named Langley -aid that when the assaulted man arrived at the Royal Hotel at Raglan, covereu with signs of a severe mauling, a search party was organised, aud the accused was captured and locked up. The stolen watch was found in the scrub close at hand. Accused admitted kicking "the old man." and taking his watch, but denied searching his pockets. Frederick Brhvor.. another of tbe search party, and Constable Conned gave similar evidence. The constable said the accused admitted taking the watch, but when he found that the d d thing was no good he threw it away in the scrub. The constable -wore to a statement made and signed by the accused in the Lower Court confessing tbe assault and the theft of the watch. Accused on oath said that Wilson overtook him as he was singing along the road, and started a <»nvefsation on politics, and the relative merits of the English. German, and Russian soldier. The old man said the English soldier was the best fighter. Accused retorted that both the German and Russian soldier were better than the Edsiish. As the dispute matured Wilson gave him a push and called him a German

. This hurt his feelings, and he assaulted Wilson to show him that the Oeraian —— could fight. In the tussle he accidental ly pulled off Wilson's watch, a.nd when they were rolling on the ground he may have kicked him. for Wilson was holding him by the legs. It was true that he had only just served a term of three months in gaol. The jury found the accused guilty, and he was sentenced for three years. His Honor commenting on the brutal nature of tbe assault. A GILDED .SIXPENCE. David Stuart (alias Donald Stewart) pleaded not guilty to obtaining 9/6 from Ella Smith at Thames by means of a gilder! si-cpenee. Miss sfmith. barmaid at the Imperial Hotel at Thames, deposed that the accused visited the hotel, aaid tendered the gilded sixpence for a small beer. She took the coin for a half-sovereign, as the accused put it on the counter "head up.' and she gave him change accordingly. Subsequently she discovered it was a sixpence. This was the only "gold" taken during the day. Percy Baker said he saw the accused tender what appeared to be half a sovereign for a small beer on the occasion stated. Harry Hansen said he received the gilded sixpence from the barmaid later in the evening in change, nnd pointed out to her that it was a sixpence without picking it up from the counter. The licensee named Douslin rrave evidence, and spoke of a sovereisrn being in the till beside the half sovereign. Detective Denorvelle gave evidence of the arrest. His Honor said the discrepancy between the evidence of the barmaid and that of the licensee a- to the number of gold eoirrs in the till created a doubt whii-h retruired serious; consideration. The jury, after four hours' deliberation, found the accused not guilty, and he was discharged. A ROTORUA PROSECUTION. In the case against Walter Wrexham Hawkins, tor stealing a bicycle- at Rotorua, the jury brought in a verdict of guilty after a short retirement. In passing sentence His Honor said that Hawkins had already pleaded guilty to five other charges of obtaining money by false pretences. Ke would pass a light sentence in the hope that it would bring him to his senses. A term of two years for the whole of tbe charges was imposed. (Continued on page vu«4