THE COURTS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18232, 17 November 1924, Page 4

THE COURTS.

SUPREME COURT.

PRISONERS FOE TKIAL.

The following is the list of prisoners for irißl at the criminal cessions of the Supreme Court, commencing to-day:—

Gertrude Grace Bell—Alleged procuring aiortioa.

Peter Kcevil Johnston—Alleeed indecent assault on males (three charges), murder Ed * ard attempted

Georgo Cann.-Allcgcd breaking, entermg and thoft.

Georgo Albert Knight and Henrietta, Knight.—Alleged false statement for insertion in birth register. Loita Jacobs.—Alleged breaking, onterhu: aiid theft (flvb charges); alleged burglar?,' alleged attempted theft. Alfred Sag£ers.-=-Allegcd indecent as«mt.

"William Laurence Smith.—Alleged theft rimotliy O'Cohriell and Patrick Jame& burglar}'. (Beioro hy> Honour Mr Justice Adams) SOX SUES FATIfjiK.

George Gordon Holmes, jun., Pigeon Bavsued his father, Gcprgo Gordon Holmes son'.* for tho transfer of a farm of 150 acres at Holihes's Bay, in Pigeon Bay, Banks Pehin' sula, claiming that tho property was A gift to hirri from his mother, who died in March last, and who, at the time of her death, held the title to the property. Thefather, trustee, tinder Mra Holmes's will, refused to make the transfer, on the ground that there was no conclusive evidence of a gift by the mother.to the sou. The Holniea estate in Pigeon Bay was taken up originally by Mr Georgo Holmes, who built the Lyttelton tunnel, ajid who wad an unclb of tho defendant in tho case. The family is well known in Canterbury. The hearing bl the case was continued after ah adjournment of somo weeks.

Mr W. J. Hunter appeared for the son, and Mr 0. T. J. Alpe're, with him Mr H. H. Hanna, fox the father. Charles James "Wilson, department manager for Pyce, Gould, Guinness, called by Mr Alpers. said that somo ago the boh consulted him oh _ financial matters. 'the sou then was farming 338 acres in Holmes's Bay, including tile ISO acres in disjwtei The son told witness that he farmed the property, and that it would lie his on tho death of his father. "Witness was under that impression in 1920 and 1922. The Scin said that lie was always going to get it, but that his father would not give it absolutely, .as his father Was afraid that tho son Would put a rhbrtgagt! on it. To Mi- Hunter: The eon said in 1922 that ho expected ebon to get a rdleaee of liabilities on his North Island properties, and then would get a title to tho 33S acres. In fho diary of' the late Jir A. Boyle, ono bt the directors . of witness's firm, there was an entry in 1901 that the son had said that his father had given him 400 acres, unencumbered, valued by the Government 4t £36 an acre.

Mr Alpers s-tldreSacd the Court, arid further hearing of tho c-aso ' was adjourned till November 21st. at 10.13 a.m., -when Mr Iluntcr will address the Court. MAGISTERIAL. SA'fUHDAX (Before Messrs J. If. S«i;tff and F. H. 'Christian, J.tV*.) MtJftKEMESS. ■ Two Statutory first offenders wer6 each cdlivictei and filled 10b, in default 21 'lifluis' .imprisonment. Pcrcival Nix.Ki ftftbirisbn, who pleaded prilly to a chat-go o! drunkenness for the third timo within oho Week, was convicted and Bontbneed to seven days irnpHsonmerit,

HEMAKDED.. •Mary Cecilia UanSbUry was lelhanderl' W appear" to-day on a charge of drUhkennesS 'arid on a further chftrgd of having procured liquor during tho currency of a pre* htbition brdor. ; "LEAVE THE TbTfTSV'' - Joseph Nicholls, a middle-aged man i whd was defended by Mr M. 3".. Burns, pleaded riot giiiltv to a charge of being a .regno and a vagabond in that ho had insufficient la\VfUl ihbaus of support. The police evidence was to th 6 effect tliat detectives had seen the accused in hotels in the city during- the last fortnight, and they knew he had done no work. Duritlp? rac* week he had taken to mart, with a broker! leg to tho Christchurch Hospital, and t<ild the head porter there that ho had rescued him from soine "dirty Work" at Coker'a Hotel. While tho porter was telephoning the information to the polite, tho dccu*6d went through the injured man's pockets, put was caught by tho porter, who returned un» S '\it Burns said that fticholls. Md been working in Duoedln for two and a-half manthS. About a ffli'tnijchfc age" hie father became- aerunisly, ill, arid accused carhe to Christchurch to see him. He w.as living ■with his people, who were keeping hini, and fhereforii, counsel submitted', tho charge' could flit succeed because ttccUStd had sufflcterit nicaiis of Support. Tho Bench said that there- was bateljf ondtigh evideitett to convict, . o;nd ( would dishiiss the chafga. "But,' psid ili* Justices, "You had belter leave the tcttvii and go into tho cdimtfy and get j>6rn& vork. because.that is nno of the conditions oa uhioh wo diSrnisS the cadi."