SUPREME COURT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 734, 5 February 1910, Page 15

SUPREME COURT.

TEN YEARS FOR A DEGENERATE,

y : : NERVOUS BUT''DANGEROUS.' .' ;' The criminal sessions of the Supreme. Court were continued yesterday before Mr. ! Justice Chapinaii.

'Joseph Brain, a nervous -man of 35. was defended by Mr. R. H; Webb on a serious charge. ■'■ ■ \■'.-'■■ "."V > '.'.

The jury brought in a verdict of ,'Guilty," after half an hour's deliberation. " -■';-'.■ ',■'•'.■..'■:■. ';•.'-'■

' His, Honour, in sentencing the; prisoner to "ten' years'- imprisonment with hard labour, stated that was )a. dangerous man, and would.have to be withdrawn from contact with the public. '-

:'' : .^TER.DRINKING. - ; ; , > James Diggs was charged, with having on November 24 assaulted 'George Robertson'Gray, and robbed him of the sum of 13s. 6d. Accused was defended by Mr. R. H. Webb. Mr. Myers conducted the .prosecution. .■•'.■'■■ , The evidence of. the principal witness, 'Georgo Robertson Gray, was to tho:effect that on the ovehiug of.the day in question, he stood treat :to the- accused and,certain others at the' Duke' of Edinburgh Hotel, aud afterwards had crossed over towards tho Albert Hotel with them, rand walked up 'thei street a little way. Accused asked, him whether he was going to standltreat, and ho .replied, "No; I've had' enough." :. Then accused, who. was standing near'to him, suddenly- struck him in -the face, dislocating, his 'jaw, blacking his eye,. and rendering him : in.sensible.-./ While in that condition one '. of the''others,; ho alleged, abstracted from his 'vest .the snm of 18s. .6d. ': His bag, containing articles valued at £i, also disappeared, and had:'not •been':;' found .; Under' cross-examination by c'ounsol for the defencej' witness admitted that he had on''previous Occasions got .into., troublo through; drink. '-. ;He had been employed in ; various' capacities, being,,as he expressed it, "a:manrof niany parts."..• V ; .-' '■ ' Evidence was also given by Eric Bleasel. (barman at:,the 'Duke of. Edinburgh Ho- : telj,. and. Detective Cassells.'.: i 'liter a'retirement of about 20 minutes, the" jury feturned. a verdict, of ' "Not guilty.". '.Accused v was then -.discharged.

;; ; -■ ■;V'(■' ■';',; Tp' : DAY'S.CASES.;;. t ■..;;■ ■ : ; ,:' Joseph, .'WiUiams,'. charged -with . attempted, murder ,in' Ghuzneo Street,, and John t Henry Ireson,". charged with; breaking and : entering/, and' theft,'.will come before, the;,Court\for.;Wal, to-day.'.... ■i;-^^}- : v-;rJN "BANcb.;;.^;. point.'.:,': - : k point was submitted in Banco! yesterday .to'.'Mr. Justice'; Cooper iff the ;caso.' betweori: John Henry 'Wood, land": agent; ■of ' Brooklyn (appellant), for.. whom.'. Mri/Duna appeared, and Messrs; Jackson;.and,(Co;, oil:"and colour: merchants'{respondents),, represented by Mr.. T. ;;Tpnng.; .Tbo point was' whether; a, cer■tain - : order ', given »' by.. a; workmanupon an 'employer,' in; favour Of;'a. tradesman, ;^vas' hi; bill- of exchange. or : an - assignment. ■;'•■ Shortlyi: the 'facts.,as submitted .were, that.' the'. < firm ■' of',.' Ledger -.' and .-..Coy, (the workman).. bad .' contracted <■' to',■' do, cer-; tain,painting;, for.. J. .Hi Wood: (the. employer),; who bad: recently: put up -a new. .house; The painting, material '• had been supplied .by, Jackson-andCb; (thb tradesthe'contractors (Ledgerand Co.); who/gave. Jackson,and Co;'the: followin!,• order'.on/Mr;;Wobd:--,;'' ;:.;,;;".; v ';.'.: :: ■'■'■., '■'■;} '."kindiy'pay to Messrs...Jackson'and'.; v\Co,\''.the;si|mjOf to cover;the'.cost,:! :bf imalerial/supplied f6r.:-me'. on your .-.- ... jofeVrand. deduct tho amount from,the... "'.sum,'due- to :,me,. on the;'coinpletion..of. ', : my'cbntract \with. ypul'V; T. ';.-^. : -::> ;,; The'Magistrate.;'had:'.previoiisly. held, that .the document .was .in >the; nature, of aihill of:exchange, accepted by;Mr.,Wood*, and' thaf'he'Wvas, liable for •. the amount to' Jackson \aiid .:.Co; ,'.The ■ grounds;.bf ; tho present action "were' that it,was not a. bill, of exchange;: and that the .appellant;, had. .'.'; not.: a:halancft in hand.'to..pay' it;;.,..; ;. His! Honour-reserved judgment.;',';.,;'

;.: ; ;o.^ijLVMUflrroK*s : tti , Ams;f.v^ ' -Sittinjc in .yesterday, :Mr. Justice Cooper heard 'an application- in connectionwith the bankruptcy: of J, J. Patterson; 'solicitor; foLDannevirkc.' The-, hiotioh,: brqußlit by, Freeruan,;' Potts; C.aud. Downes,' solicitors/of Datinovirke„wasfor costs: in connection'with their':..opposition to a- deed of 'composition''submitted'.'by the"bankrupt.for the.Conrfs approval. ■■■•: '•'Mr; •H.'Buddlo-appeared for'the applicants,' and Mr.':. A. -: L. Herdman opposed the motion of!;the .Official .As-; signee at'Bannevirke."■■-:, • ■■'.■ ■■'.'. ':■-.. "After' hearing, counsel -the '.Judge') adjourned- the . matter; for' consideration; at the next sittings of the Court in Napier.-'