WESTLAND SUPREME COURT.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1918, Page 3

WESTLAND SUPREME COURT.

SITTING AT HOKITIKA. I i FRIDAY, MARCH 15th. 1918. j (Before his Honour Dir Justice ! Herdmau.) I His Honour took his seat at 10 a.in. IN CHAMBERS. In the matter of “The Mortgages Extension Act, 1914,” in re a mortgage in estate of the late John McGregor; motion for leave to exercise power of sale (Park and Murdoch). —Order made subject to an affidavit being made. Tn the Estate of David Yarworth, of Ross, deceased (Park and Murdoch); motion for allowance out of estate for maintenance and education of D. J. Yarworth, an infant.—Order trade costs to he paid out of estate, and to be taxed by Registrar.

In the estate of Thomas Meharry, junior, of Kokatalu, farmer, deceased (Park and Murdoch); motion for letters of administration.—Order made as prayed. WELCOME TO' HIS HONOUR.

Mr Park (Crown Prosecutor) stated he had been asked on behalf of the Bar to extend a welcome to his Honour to the West Coast. It was not the first visit his Honour hnd%made, for some years ago, he remembered w” 1 - satisfaction that he had taken part in a memorable trial here. He trusted bis Honour would continue to visit the Coast, and that lie would continue to have the perfect weather they were experiencing. He trusted they would have the pleasure of having his Honour presiding on many future occasions.

HIS HONOUR’S REPLY. His Honour thanked the speaker and the Bar very warmly for their words of welcome. It was not the first occasion he had visited Hokitika, as he remembered with satisfaction his former visit when he took part as counsel in a memorable trial, lie felt he could depend oil the loyal co-opera tiqn a no. the goodwill of the members of the Bar, and trusted that his visits would prove quite satisfactory to them and for the good of the country. GRAND JURY.

The following Grand Jury was evnpannelled:—B. Ward, H. W. Sweeney, A. E. Stapleton, A. Parkhill. W. Slver. man, J W. Maunder, J. C. Mncfnr]nno' G. C: Perry, W. G. Keller, H. L. Michel, G. Haussmann, L. D. Dwan, F. Powell. ’l'. W. Duff, O. Borton, J. T. Lloyd, A. B. King, J. B. Ward, W. E. Perry, B. Therm and J. J. Clarke. For not putting in an appearance, AV. H. Houston and J. .1. Mclntosh were each fined £2. Mr. H. L. Michel was chosen foreman. HIS HONOUR’S CHARGE,

His Honour said it was gratifying to him to find on this, his first. official visit to the district that his duties veto to be so unusually light. There was only one case for their consideration, in which a man, a returned soldier, was charged with unlawfully carnally knowing a girl under the age of 16 years. They would have the evidence of the girl, hut they jyould require to be careful in their consideration to see that the evidence of the girl "as corroborated b 4 an independent witness. There would also be the evidence of a police officer. They would retire and consider their verdict.

The Jury retired at 10.15 a.m. COMMON JURORS. The members of the Common Jurj were called and were sworn.

G. Davidson, K. Wallace, J. J Ay ill ia ins, and E. Findlay were excused from attendance, being firemen. A. Cow ic was excused owing-tp illnessj Frederick Finch, who did not appear, was fined : £2. A quarter of an houj later lie put in an appearance, making as an excuse that liis bicycle had been punctured, causing his delay. His Honour accepted the excuse, and remitted the fine, pointing out that it was necessary to make sure of being present iuptime.

TRUE BILL. The Grand Jury returned at 10.4 C a.m. with a true bill against Henry A. Black'mmi. GRAND JURY’S WELCOME. After t delivering the finding of the Grand Jury, the foreman (Mr.H.- L., Michel) stated that he had been asked by the Grand Jury to express their' Jcongratulntions at his Honour’s elevation to his high office. In the pasi his Honour bad rendered valued services to the State, and he trustet?that his health'would allow him to long con. tinue in the service of the country. He also wished to state that the Grand Jury of the district were aware of the high sense of responsibility with which they were trusted and had a high ideal of the proper carrying out of justice. They trusted that his Honour will continue to include the West Coast in his district", and that he would make regular sittings at Hokitika, even though there was a continued absence of serious crime, as in the past. He again extended a warm welcome to bis Honour to Hokitika.

His Honour thanked . them for the kindness of their welcome, which he deeply appreciated. He was well aware that the juries in Hokitika district had always endeavoured to uphold the highest traditions of British justice. He thanked them for tin; reference to his nnst services, and trusted that he would be able to meet them on many future occasions.

carnal knowledge. Rex. v. Henry A. Blackman, a charge of unlawfully cnrnallv knowing ;i girl under the age of 16 years at Stafford, between ~Tnly and September. 1917. Mr J. Hannan appeared for tlm Crown, and Mr Murdoch for the. accused. Accused pleaded “Not Guilty.” The following Jnrv wore empanelled - W. H. Batson. J. C. Wells. T. -T. \Vel>b, F. Collyer. E. ,T. Wells. TV Tellie F. Finch, John j. Morgan, W S. McFndven, R. J. Bradley. A. J. King. George Head. Mr W. H. Batson was chosen foreman*

The Crown ordered the following to stand aside:—G. Dee, James Toohey, W. S. Stewart, T. S'. Ward. Mr Murdoch challenged the follow-ing:-—lf. Haile, A. Aitken, James Wood, John Muir and E. Bowden. His Honour ordered that the Court be cleared during the hearing of the case. | The case for the Crown had been concluded and that for the defence was being presented, when the Court adjourned for luncheon at one o’clock. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Court resumed at 2 p.rn. . The. evidence for the defence') was concluded, and after counsel had addressed the jury and His Honor had summed up, the jury retired at 2.50 p.m. to consider the verdict. The jury returned at 3.20 p.m with a verdict of “Not Guilty/’ The accused was then discharged.

IN DIVORCE. Robert James Stuart v. Nora Stuart, and James A. Dowell co-respondent, a suit for dissolution of marriage on the grounds of adultery. Mr. Joyce appeared for the petitioner and Mr. Murdoch and Mr. Hanan for the respondent and Mr. Park for co-respondent. The folowing jury were empanelled. T. S. Ward, E. Bowden, Archibald McNeil. W. Y. Bradley, A. J. Cropper, W. S. Stewart, L. D. Dwan. Mr. Murdoch challenged 11. Haile, James Wood. Mr. Park challenged J. Muir, W. Sherman, E. Peake. Mr. Joyce challenged G. Dee, James Toohey. With seven jurymen drawn the jury panel was exhausted and those draiyn were dismissed until the jury in the previous case came back with their decision.

His Honor said that then the jury would he re-drawn and in the event of counsel exhausting the list and not completing the jury, the hearing Would have to stand down until the next sitting. ■ After the return of the jury a few minutes later, the following jury was Hhen einpannelleds—-W. Y. Bradley, W. S. Stewart, L. D. Dwan, E. Bawden, T. S. Wood, John J. Morgan- T. J. Webb, A. McNeill, F. Finch, A. J. Cropper, W. H. Batson, F. Collyer. Mr. Batson was chosen foreman. Mr Joyce ohnllejnged. James Toohey, G. Dee, D. Jellie. W. C. McFadyen, G. Head. A. J. King. Mr. Park challenged JoTin Muir, W. Sherman, E. J. Wells, H. Haile, E. Peake, A. Aitken. Mr. Murdoch challenged J. C. Wells, R. J. Bradley. Mr. .Toyco opened the case for the plaintiff. (Left fitting).