SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2859, 25 August 1916, Page 7

SUPREME COURT

WAREHOUSE THEFTS

MOjRRIS AGAIN FOUND NOT GUILTY

His Honour Mr. Justice Chapman presided at the Supremo Court yesterday.

John Thomas Morris, grocer, was arraigned on furthor charges of receiving certain goods of tho value of £61 135., knowing tho same to have been stolon. Accused was last week placed in tho dock to answer similar charges, and was acqiiitted. _ Mr. V. K. Meredith, of tho Crown Law Office, appeared for tho prosecution, and Mr. M. Myers, with him Mr. H. F. O'Lcary, represented tho ■; accused. '

Mr. Meredith, in outlining tno case for the prosecution, said that Sharland and Co., discovering that certain of their stock was disappearing, held a stocktaking, and found considerable dis* orepancies. A storeman-in the employ of the obiupany named Bray confessed to the,theft of the.goods and delivery of same to Morris. The case rested on practically the same evidence as was given in the previous trial of accused. Evidence was given for the prosecution by Walter Fair Larkin, James Henry Bray, John Crowle, and Watson,' expressmen, Barker, a carter in the em- , ploy of the Wellington Box Company, and Detective Mason on the same lines as at the previous trial. For tho defence, Mr. Myers called Harry W.. Moss, sales manager of John-ston-and Co., Ltd., .Francis Dilnot gladden, secretary of the- Wellington Meat Export Company, and Eobert Henry Elbs, of Ellis and Manton, to testify to the charaoter of the accused.

■■ Ghristina Morris, wife of accused, repoated her evidence as at the former trial. • After a retirement of about two hours, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and the accused was discharged.' '.',.''

/'.'; /DIVORCE CASES

Mr.- Justice Edwards dealt with the divorce cases in the' Supreme Court yesterday. The suit Arthur David Benge, farmer, of Kaitbke, who sought a dissolution of his marriage with Catherine .Pearl Benge on the ground of misconduct, Issao William Barnett being joined as was further beard. At the hearing on Friday last eyidence.was given that respondent had been guilty of misconduct, with the corespondent, and had subsequently loft the djstrict.in the company of the corespondent and had. not since been heard of. The evidence tendered yesterday was in "the direction of showing that co-respondent had not gone to the war. A 1 certificate from the. military authorities was produced iii corroboration. A decree nisi was granted, with costs against the co-respondent. Custody of the children was given to the petitioner for whom Mr. 0. C. Mazengarb appeared. ' .-.. '.'■' CASE IN CAMERA. /Herbert Percival Weston sought a dissolution, of his marriage, with Eliza Weston on the ground of alleged misconduct, Frederick Groombridge being joined as co-respondent and £600 damlages was claimed from him. The case [was heard before a common jury. . 'Mr.',J. C. Peacock appeared for the petitioner, Mr. T, M. Wilford for the respondent, and Mr. P. Wl Jackson for,, .the, co-respondent. . - By. order of His Honour the hearing was taken in camera. The hearing had not concluded when the Court ■ adjourned last'evening, -~•. .<•