SUPREME COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3018, 22 October 1872, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

NISI PRIUS SITTINGS. This Day, (Before Mr Justice Chapman.) NUTTER V, PRITCHARD. Thp case for the plaintiff is still unfinished. To-day foji/c oigbt or nine witnesses were examined,' the principal evidence going to the question of Rpddain’s alleged insanity.— 0. H, Sandprs, landlord of the Cornwall Arjps Hotel, George at,, stated that the day before Roddam sailed for Melbourne, and for some weeks previously, Roddam was suffering fro \i\ delirium tremens, Peter Shenvin, coaehbuikter, said Roddam was always in a state of beer ; and scarcely ever remembered one moment what he had said the minute before. For a month previous to his departure he was suffering from delirium tremens.—William Greenwood detailed a conversation he had with Roddam on the morning of the lire at the (lub Hotel, on the 27th May last Roddam, who was then drunk, said he had been in a watchmaker’s shop in George street, and there had a nobbier, when the firebell rang—the hour was 4 p.m., and that his own bed had been on lire before that time ; a’d he had to go out theu. On May HO he saw him four times; also when ho went to Court’s hotel w r ith Pritohard. Witness wished it to be understood that not only after May 27, but on that day he considered Roddam mad, Ohas. Duff, George M‘Gavin, landlord of the White Horse Hotel, and Alex. Carmichael, also testified to Roddam’s state in May and Jnne last. M‘Gavin instanced Roddam’s having on one occasion complained of carpenters being at work in the hotel, while in fact none had ever been there ; and Carmichael of his repeatedly “ dancing about like a madman.” M'Davin valued the two teams purchased by P/itchard from Roddam at L7‘>o; and the three horses, the ownership of which was disputed, at LI 15. Carmichael denied the statement made that when he entered RoddaxAs service ho was wholly without moans ; he said that he always had a balance at his banker’s amounting to about 1,1100. He produced a deposit receipt, dated 1863, for L 350, and another, dated 1809, for L3GS. (Left sitting.)

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT. This Day. (Before' A. C. Strode, Esq., R.M.) MAINTENANCE. Robert Johnson, charged with failing to contribute the sum of 10s a week ordered to be paid to his mother for her maintenance, pleaded inability to pay so large a sum. Mr Hodgkins for the complainant. It appeared that he had obtained some property belonging to his mother, notwithstanding which he refused to contribute to her support. The defendant said he was willing to cuter into such au arrangement as would render the property available for his mother’s support, and Mr Hodgkins agreed to an adjournment of the proceedings to give opportunity for it being completed.