PROVINCIAL NEWS

Kumara Times, Issue 2948, 12 April 1886, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS

[united PRESS ASSOCIATION.! WRECK OF UNION STEAMER TAIAROA. ALL HANDS AND PASSENGERS DROWNED, EXCEPT TWO WASHED ASHORE.

Wellington, April 12, The Union Company’s steamer Taiaroa, bound from Wellington to Lyttelton, went ashore at Clarence Head yesterday. The vessel is on her beam ends. Two passengers have been washed ashore safely, but it is believed all the others are drowned.

THE SEVERED HAND CONSPIRACY CASE.

Christchurch, April 10. The hearing of the severed hand conspiracy case was resumed this morning. Air Harper, for the prosecution, said that the case did not depend upon the non-marriage of Howard, as the second count cnarged them with an attempt to defraud. Regirding the question of ■marriage, the evidence showed that the vessel on which Howard’s so called marriage took place was registered and owned in Glasgow. The question was whether a Scotch irregular marriage was valid if performed on board a ship. To make such a marriage valid in Scotland, it must he performed in Scotland ami followed by cohabitation in Scotland. He asked bis Honor, if he had any doubt, to reserve (he point if necessary far the Court of Appeal. Mr J oynfc, for Howard, submitted that the ship was part of the territory of Scotland. Therefore a Scotch Irregular marriage performed on hoard was valid.

Mr Stringer, for Mrs Howard, adopted ranch the same line of defence is Mr Joynt.

Mr Holmes, for the Godfreys, submitted that there was no evidence whatever to connect them with the affair at all.

Justice Johnston’s summing up occupied an hour and a-half. It was somewhat favorable to the Godfreys. At 6.20 p.m. the jury retired, and, aftei an hour and a-half, returned, when the foreman announced that they had acquitted the Godfreys. With regard to Mrs Howard, they had little doubt of her innocence previous to D member 15th, the day before the severed hand was found at Sumner, but wished to know if s he would be guilty of conspiracy for the action she took with legat'd to the hand after that day. His Honor ieplied that he fhoo«hfc that on the whole he could rule that Hie jury might bring her in guilty if they thought she had knowingly made false statements after December 15. After a short consultation the jury Tound all the prisoners not guilty on the first count, that of conspiracy, and Howard alone guilty on the second count, attempt to defraud. His Honour sentenced Howard to two years’ imprisonment, without hard labour. In passing sentence, he remarked that, lie quite agreed with tljo verdict with regard to (he Godfreys. Ho regretted that the law did nor allow him to give a more severe punishmeiv, or to si-tumice the prisoner to haul labour. The Court mlj mm • j at 8.-10 p.m.