GREY SUPREME COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1920, Page 4

GREY SUPREME COURT

GRETMOUTH, This Day. The Supreme Court sittings were continued before Mr Justice Herdman yesterday. Archibald O’Connor, who was not represented by Counsel, was charged that on the night of October 20th, 1919, he did wilfully damage Wesley Hall and the new Church, to the value of £l4 19s 6d. Accused pleaded not guilty. The Jury returned a verdict of “Guilty, with a strong recommendation for mercy.” His Honour said that the unfortunate tiling about the case was that 40 or 50 inhabitants of Greymouth were quite as guilty as accused, blit liad not been brought to boot. People, bad a right to hold meetings without being interered with by a lot of hool’gnns. He would sentence prisoner to jhree months’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Patrick McGuinness and Gerald Joyce (Mr W. .Joyce) were charged that on the night of October 20th, 1919, they did wilfully damage Wesley Hall by throwing stones at the windows. Both the 'accused pleaded not guilty.

His Honour, in addressing the Jury, said that sectarian feeling seemed t 1 have run very High, but that should not enter into their decision, as a man’s religion was liis own business and no one else’s. The Crown must prove their case, and if they had any doubt that the evidence given was not clear enough then it was their bounden duty to acquit the accused. The Jury returned after half an hour’s retirement with a verdict of “Not Guilty.” Louis Edward Williams and Ffiderick Williams (Mr Joyce) were jointly carged with .assaulting a Chinaman with intent to rob. Mr Park, for the Crown, withdrew the charge against Ixmis Edward Williams, owing to insufficient evidence and the information was dismissed. It was also agreed to withdraw the second count against Frederick Williams and deal with the ease on a charge of common assault. Mr Joyce said that at the time of the alleged assault both accused had money in the Savings Bank, and had drawn out £6 so that there was question of robbery. The whole matter was the outcome of a. boyish prank, and the intent of accused wa; not criminal. His Honour strongly reprimanded Williams for his action and committed him to probation under the First-Offenders’ Act for a period of twelve months, subject to accused paying into Court the sum of £23 15 incidental costs of the proceedings. The payments were allowed to be 'unde monthly. Margaret Andreasson (Mr W. Joyce) sought a divorce from her husband, Theodore August Andreasson, soldier, nor of Wellington, on the grounds of desertion. After hearing the evidence of the petitioner and her sister, His Honour granted a decree nisi, to be made absolute in three months, with costs on the lowest scale.

The Court adjourned till 10 a.m. today.