LAW REPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1217, 28 August 1911, Page 3

LAW REPORTS.

END OF CRIMINAL SESSIONS. THE OTAKI CASE. COOT.ES gaoled for one year. The criminal sessions of the .Supremo Court came to an end 011 Saturday, whon hearing was concluded of tho case in which n Native, named I'ranl: Cootcs, was charged with that, 011 May 15, at Otaki, he had assaulted James Plaiituil, anil robbed him of «£B. There had );een a trial during tho week before last, but the jury disagreed and a new trial was ordered. The second trial commenced before Mr. Justito Sim on Friday, and was continued yesterday morning. " .Mr. H. 11. Ostler represented the Crown, and Mr. T. 31. Gilford, with him 3lr. J. Cracroft Wilson, appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty. The jury retired at a few minutes' pa c f. one o'clock, and returned at ten minutes past three, finding accused guilty of "assault with intent to rob."

.Mr. Wilson asked his Honour if he could see his way to deal leniently with Copies, who was a married inan with six children.

Mr. Ostler slated that there were several previous convictions against the accused.

A sentence of 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour was imposed.

PETITION IN DIVORCE. On Saturday morning, Mr. Justice Sim heard a petition of Elizabeth I jowther for dissolution of her marriage with Frederick James Lowther, commercial traveller. Mr. F. E. Petherick appeared for the petitioner, but the respondent was not represented. • From the evidence, it appeared that the parties were -married in Melbourne on April 10, 1885, and lived together at Fitzroy, Melbourne, then in England, and later in Melbourne again. Tho only child of the marriage had died in England. In or _ about September, ICOI, respondent left his wife, stating that he was going to the Boer War. From that time she had Tecciveil 110 money from him. She had given hint no cause to desert her. During the last five years petitioner had been maintaining herself by working for tho J. C. Williamson Company. The case was adjourned until JO a.m. to-day, so that respondent's domicile ia New Zealand could bo proved.

PKOBATE OF WILLS. On the motion of Mr. J. W. Macdonald, tho Supremo Court has granted to the Public Trustee probate of the wills of the under-mentioned deceased persons:— Richard William Lecher, lato of Black's Point, miner; David Duncan Muir, late of Balclutha, settlor; Thomas Patton, late of Christchurch, labourer; Andrew Harvey, late of Limehills, retired farmer; Harriet Ann Dempsey, lato of Wellington, widow; Arthur Carr Ormpml, late of Gisborne, farmer; Mary Ann "Baldwin, lato of Auckland, widow.

The Public Trustee obtained administration from the Court in respect of the estates of the following:—Kobcrt Atherton Edwin, late of Wellington, retired naval captain; John M'Bain, lato of Cobden, watchmaker; John Johnston, lato of Timaru, labourer; Mary Ann M'Roberts, late of Auckland, settler; Michael Burns, lata of JCumara, settler; William Powers, late of Stoneyliurst, carter; Thomas Duncan M'Nicol, late of Westport, fisherman; David Bennie, late of Parawai, miner; William Frederick Dane, late of Braeburn, farmer; Johanna Sophie Hcnrietto Deneke, late of Braunschweig, Germany, widow; William Oldfield, late of Rotorua. settler; Samuel Fullerton Tait, lato of Papanui, farmer; George Goldwin Cnple, late of Clifton,' England, commercial traveller; Thomas Haire, lato of Kaponga, clerk in Holy Orders';- Thomas Anderson, lato of Jtanakau, gardener; Edward G. I'arr, late of Opotiki, photographer; Georgo Denis Cronin, late of Pelone, coachbuilder.