SUPREME COURT, WANGAtfUI.

Manawatu Herald, Issue 24, 23 November 1880, Page 2

SUPREME COURT, WANGAtfUI.

The ease of Kevern, an ex-clerk of ihe Bank of New Zealand, Marton marged with forgery, occupied the 3ourt all last Thursday. The, jury brought in a verdict of guilty, and prisoner was sentenced to six years' penal servitude with hard lahour. On Friday Kevern was tried for another offence of the same character and found guilty, a sentence of seven years' penal servitude being inflicted, but as this will run concurrently with the previous sentence, the total length of his term of imprisonment will be only seven years. eumsey's case. The charge of poisoning against Eumsey was investigated on Friday. The evidence for the prosecution was similar to that given at the R. M. Court. The following report of the case for the defence is from the Wanganui Chronicle : — William Northcot was called as a witness for the defence. [This witness; before taking the oath, desired to know if his expenses would be paid. He had come over a hundred miles, and did not know from the subpoena whether he was called for the prosecution or defence. — His Honor said in criminal cases a witness can refuse to come if his expenses are not guaranteed, but if he came to the Court he would have to give evidence. It was no doubt a most unsatisfactory state of things that a man could be subpoenaed under a penalty of £100, when at the same time he had a perfect right to refuse to come until his expenses were forthcoming. The Court had no power to order prisoner to pay the witness's expenses. It was high time some alteration was made made in the law in cases of this kind.] — Northcot deposed that he was drinking in the hotel with prisoner. He heard Greenough refuse to supply prisoner with any more liquor. It was about G o'clock.— Mrs Abbott was called, and also asked about her expenses. She had left her four children, and had to pay a woman to look after them.— The prisoner sa,id he would endeavour to pay the witnesses. His life had been perhaps placed in jeopardy through, this charge, and naturally he had to'us<w his utmost endeavours to defend hinf# self.— His Honor said he could net say anything about that. This state of things was most unsatisfactory. — Mrs Abbott, sworn, gave evidence similar to that adduced by her husband. — Frances Harvey, a half-caste woman, also asked for her expenses, and received the same reply. She knew nothing about the case, and prisoner called John Harper, who asked the same doleful question, " What about mv expenses ? " before taking the oath. He said he had travelled 220 miles. He knew nothing of the case either. - Samuel Pratteg, bootmaker, living at Otaki, said he had left there with only an hour and a half s notice, and had no money to pay for his journey back. He knew nothing of any noxious drugs kept at Greeuough's hotel. He had seen a number of persons go behind Greenough's bar and serve drinks. — Paris Anderson made the same complaint, and knew nothing of the case.— .Mr Fitehorbert addressed the jury briefly, and stated that he had been informed that strychnine was sometimes used to give beer a bitter taste. It was possible that was the case in this instance, and some of the strychnine had regained as a sediment at the bottom of the bottle.— His Honor summed up at some length, reading and comparing the depositions taken at Foxtou with tho evidence taken yesterday. — The jury retired for about an hour, and returned with a verdict of not guilty.— His Honor, in acquitting tlie prisoner, complimented him ou his " cheek " in cross-examining witnesses as he had done, and re- ■ marked that he would have made an excellent lawyer. On Saturday Thomas Nelan was charged with unlawfully wounding Robert Montgomery, near Marton, and the jury having found him guilty, he was sentenced to six months penal servitude.