DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

AUCKLAND SUPREME COURT

AUCKLAND, Feb. 8

At the Supreme Court John James Hanlon was found guilty of negligent driving of a car, resulting in the death of a passenger, Bernard Hosiaux, and was fined C 2.5 and costs. His license was cancel led, and lie was disqualified from obtaining another for two years. DUNEDIN SUPREME COURT. DUNEDIN, Peh. 8. The criminal sittings opened this morning. The King v. Chong, aged 37, charged with attempted murder off another Chinaman, was acquitted on the grounds of insanity. Botli men were inmates of a Benevolent Institution, and accused stabbed bis countryman on the face with a knife. The Judge ordered the accused to lie kept in custody until the pleasure of the .Ministor of Justice was known. PALMERSTON NORTH SUPREME COURT. PALMERSTON N.. Feb. S. The Supreme Court was opened this morning before Mr Justice MacGregor. Addressing the Grand Jury his Honor stated there were only three charges to investigate, hut all were of a grave character. Two indictments of murder were made against William George Sloman, of Levin, hut the facts wore clear and simple. The evidence would make it apparent that Sloman had killed both his wife and daughter, and then attempted to commit suicide by poison. The only defence available was that of insanity, which was not a matter for the Grand Jury. The other indictment was against John Diamond of causing death through negligent driving. The Grand Jury returned true hills in both eases.

THE . SLOMAN TRIAL. PALMERSTON N., Fob. 8. At the Supreme Court the hearing commenced .one of two charges of murder against William George Sioman, that of murdering Margaret Abignail Sloman. Outlining the ease for tho Crown, the prosecution stated the parties had lived at Levin for seven or eight years, and on tho morning of November 4th last an employee named Strong on going to work, at accused’s poultry farm, found the house shut, with no one about. On an investigation he saw accused’s soil lying on the bed with his head battered. The police were summoned, when they found Mrs Sloman and her daughter Rita in a. similar condition, and accused was in ail unconscious sate, having taken poison. Mrs Sloman. died on the way to the hospital. Rita Sloman died later. Arthur Horace Strong. Lines, the Crown Prosecutor, stated witness said Sloman .suffered from insomnia taking bromide to assist him to sleep. Sloman was a devoted father and husband. Some time prior to the tragedy, Slonian was suffering from financial and other worries, causing a depressed state. Constable Bague, stationed at Levin, detailed finding one of the victim's body injured inside the scullery. In the houso ho found a bloodstained tomahawk. On the tablo spread out were three letters signed “W. G. S.” One said (inter alia) “I. have sent my wife and children to heaven, and I am going also.” Further evidence related to the identification of the handwriting of . the letter as accused's; also in regard to accused’s state of health before the tragedy, he having been advised to undergo a serious operation. Dr Fraser, Medical Superintendent at the hospital when accused"was admitted, said the accused after admission was suffering from melancholia. Considered him of unsound mind. Ho was quite prepared to sign His admission to a lunatic asylum from what he saw. At the conclusion of the Crown case, counsel for the defence, said he would endeavour to prove insanity. DANGEROUS SPEEDING. ELTTIAM. Fob. 8. A youth of 16, Samuel White, was convicted at the Court to-day of dangerous speeding on a motor cycle. His license was cancelled and he was disqualified for three years from riding a cycle. It was alleged that defendant travelled over sixty miles an hour on a road in the borough near the school.