CHRISTCHURCH SUPREME COURT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 13 November 1901, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH SUPREME COURT.

[per press association.] Ceeistchdrch, November 12. At the Supreme Court criminal sittings Stanley Dale, on a charge of burglary at Kaiapoi, was sentenced to eighteen months. W. L. Batt was found not guilty on a charge of horse stealing. The charge of manslaughter against Carl.Fritf is proceeding on two counts, one of killing his wife and the other of assault on her. He pleaded not guilty to the first and guilty to the second. Medical evidence showed the woman’s body to be covered with bruises, but death was due to internal injury, presumably by a crushing blow on the surfaae of the abdomen.

The evidence for the prosecution was that the woman had been so severely beaten with a heavy harness kicking strap that it resulted in internal injuries and caused her death. The medical testimony bore this out and two sons of the accused said the father beat the mother with a kicking strap. He asked the lads to say he only used his hands and a light strap.

A sentence of one year for assault and seven years for manslaughter cumulative Was passed; The Ariadne case will come up at the present session of the Supreme Coiirt, only for the purpose of obtaining an adjournment.

Mr Stringer, the Crown Prosecutor, will apply to have the date of the trial fixed for December 17th next in order that more oversea witnesses may be brought to New Zealand in the meantime Christchurch, This Day. Robert James Shanks, dork of the Akaroa Board, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to stealing £7O. the property of the Board. Probation Was refused, and he was sentenced to six months* imprisonment. The Ariiklne trial lias been postponed, awaiting evidence from England, which is expected to arrive about December 12th.