SUPREME COURT.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 August 1926, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, Aug. 3. At the Supreme Court, on the charge of manslaughter against Richard Matthew Walker, arising out of the death of Charles Owen Exler, aged 19, on June Bth., the jury found a verdict of not guilty. The Crown case rested on the question whether the rear light of the lorry, with which the motor cyclist collided, was burning, ■ Arthur Hugh Julian, charged with

theft of a receipt for £SO and cheque for £52, drawn on the Bank of New Zealand at Ngarnawahia, and obtaining money by false pretences, was sentenced to two years’ hard labour. <• AUCKLAND. Aug. 3- r At the Supreme Court George Via- ; cent, who pleaded guilty to a charge j of negligent driving, thereby causing bodily harm, was admitted to probation for three years on condition lie pays £lO costs and £SO compensation to Airs Pomery, who was injured, at the rate of two pounds monthly. He was disqualified from holding a driver’* license for five years. ( CHARGE TO GRAND JURY. 1 PALMERSTON N-. Aug. 3. The quarterly session of the Supreme Court opened this morning, Hon. Justice Reed presiding. Addressing the Grand July his Honour observed with regret that there was more than the usurjl number of criminal cases on the calendar, but it was satisfactory to see that the worst of criminal offences, that of sexual cases was entirely absent. Of the cases for trial only one was of a serious nature. Most of them were comparatively simple so far as the Grand Jury were concerned, and the only bill likely to necessitate some consideration was a charge against Clifford Harris Thomson, of stealing some geese near Demnevirke. Accused, continued His Honour, was a man holding a responsible position. He went out hare shooting with some others on a certain property, permission having been obtained from the mother of the owner. After a number of hares had been shot, come geese were killed. While this was. m the circumstances, unwarranted, ic, was done quite openly in front of a house on the property, in the presence, of witnesses. There W:is an apparent lack of that fraudulent intent which made for theft. Tho action partook more of .larrikin ism, and while responsible could hardly be termed theft. After referring to the other cases, his Honour said the most serious was against Ernest Taniwha Sutherland, a half-caste MJnori, arraigned on a charge ot attompted murder and arsorn^^^^^