INVERCARGILL SUPREME COURT.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2562, 24 June 1882, Page 4

INVERCARGILL SUPREME COURT.

[PEHSS ASSOCIATION TKLBQBAM.I INYEBCAEGILL, June 23. The interest in the Supreme Court to-day centred in the charges against Messrs Booth and Daniel, M.H.8., of alleged malpractices at the Wallace election. Booth’s was easily disposed of, the certificate granted to him at the Elections Petitions Court being put in, upon whion the Court and counsel agreed that further proceedings in his case should be stayed. Mr Daniel was then arraigned on four counts, three charging him with aiding and abetting in an unlawful act, and the fourth with having committed an unlawful act himself. Mr Wade appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Stout (with him Mr Finn) for the defence. Evidence was led at considerable length showing that accused had attested a claim to vote whioh was not in the claimant’a handwriting, and which did not carry his signature, having been written by Booth. ... Mr Stout raised various objections, and one was held by the Court to be fatal to the case for the Crown, being that there was nothing to show that the prosecution had been commenced within six months after the offence waa alleged to be committed. His Honor therefore directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty on the first count, Mr Wade asked leave to abandon the remainder, but was bound to say from the evidence which came out and the depositions that accused as a Justice of the Peace in attesting documents whioh were neither more nor leas than falsa ones, was guilty of very considerable impropriety. However, accused had not attempted to place on the roll any but qualified persons, and so there waa no failure of justice in the case. In yesterday’s teleoram it was stated that the Crown Prosecutor (with him Mr Wade) would conduct the prosecution in Mr Daniel's case. This was a mistake. The registration officer, at whose instance the proceedings were taken, having retained Mr Wade as prosecuting counsel. Mr MacDonald had nothing whatever to do with the ease from first to last.

Lawrence Finnorfy was charged with indeoe. t assault upon Mrs MoFadden.but after hearing the evidence the jury returned a verdict of “Not guilty.”