COURT CASES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 289, 13 December 1901, Page 2

COURT CASES.

A FATHER SUES HIS SONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, last night. A singular maintenance case came before the S.M. to-day, an elderly man making application for an order to compel his two sons to contribute to his maintenance. Ho said that he was married in Scotland, his wife and he emigrating to America. There five children were born to them, but all died except one. Defendant acquired property there, and when the civil war broke out ho was called on to serve in the Northern army. To avoid doing so he made over his property to his wife, and went into the mountains. His wife returned to Scotland, and they kept up a correspondence. In Scotland the second defendant was horn. The lads grew up and came to New Zealand with their mother. Complainant was informed by a friend in Scotland where they had gone, and correspondence was renewed. Both defendants wrote to him as their father, and induced him to come to the colony. They paid his passage, and took him to their farm, where the mother recognised him as her husband. She had siueo died. He had tried to get maintenance from his sons, hut they replied that they would not recognise him. They said he had deserted his wife and children, and never contributed a penny to their upbringing. Counsel now said defendants were prepared to contribute, hut wanted proof as to their father. After complainant had given evidence they consented to give -Is each per week. HOTEL CASE.

Mr McCarthy, S.M., gave judgment in the case Police v. Sarah Jackson, licensee of the Criterion Hotel, charged with unnecessarily delaying to open a door to Sergt. Bowden. His Worship said much had been made by counsel of the fact that the evidence of the police was not similar, but in his opinion that was in favor of its truth. On the other hand the evidence of persons in the hotel was practically unanimous on points regarding the opening of the door ; that there was no drinking, and that there was no light in the bar. On other points they contradicted each other. Some witnesses even contradicted themselves. He believed the police and fined defendant £2, the license to be endorsed. Counsel for defendant said it was evident that His Worship was preparod to give credence to the conflicting ovidence of two constables against that of half-a-dozen witnesses, and intimated that he would appeal against the decision.