SUPREME COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 42, 18 February 1905, Page 7

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL, SESSIONS. (Before His Honor Mr Justice -Edwards-) NOT GUILTY. ... .. The hearing of the charge of false pretences against Gerald William Miller was. completed, yesterday afternoon, and the jury, after retiring for a 'short time, returned a verdict of "Not guilty." The accused was. then discharged. DECAYING FACULTIES. Maria Palmer, an elderly resident of Gtrey-street,- was charged with .committing perjury in the Auckland Magistrate's Court on. October 2S, when she was convicted of sly grog-selling. The Hon. J. A: Tole stated that "the evidence to substantiate the charge was that Mrs. Palnier was charged on two informations with sly grog-selling, she pleaded guilty to the first and denied the second charge. She gave evidence, swearing on oath that on the date referred to she did not supply James Marshall and Samuel Speight with beer, for which they paid. She denied that they visited her house on that date, and persisted in her statements when she was cautioned by the magistrate to be careful. The Crown Prosecutor then called Marshall and Speight, who deposed that they were served with beer, paying for it through a man named Fatt. Mr. J. R. Reed defended Mrs, Palmer, and stated that she was 73 years of age. Her sight and memory were defective, through senile decay, and she honestly gave her story in Court believing it to be true.. When she received the summons for sly grog-selling she attempted to recall the circumstances, and asked a man named Fatt about what tookplace. After that conversation she was satisfied that the men were not present. This, be contended, was not wilful perjury, and he called -evidence to demonstrate the accused's failing faculties. The jury found the accused ."Npt. guilty"' without retiring. . . . . - •