Supreme Court.

Manawatu Herald, 7 September 1899, Page 2

Supreme Court.

(Before His Honor the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout.)

AN AS'AULT CASE.

Percy Fi-hsr, about forty years of agp, pleaded not guilty to an indict* ment charging him (1) with having on July 12th attempted to woaod R becoa Griffin, and (2) with on the same dite hiving assaulted Rebecca Griffin.

After Rbecoi Griffin bad given her evidence and T>c Teare, evidence wis given by M. MoLian. John Woodger, Constables Rally anc^McGiUigan, Jinua Gray and Detective K Neil.

Tha prisoner elected to give evidence on hU own bf h ilf He denied that be threatened Mis 9 Griffia in any w.iy. Oa tha contrary, she suddenly commenced to scream, and all h^ did was to place his hand) over her month with th-t obj ct of inducing her to desist. Cr»s?- xamined by counsel f>r the Crow .. the prkoner admitted that he feal served several sentences of imprisoamonr. He adhered to a statem ?nt previously mide that Mis 3 Griffin knew be v?a-» a married miv. Fisher also miin. caiued the truth of certain allegation.? he had mide in bis evidence con-< cerning their relaiionship* i Fpher subsequently addresiej tha Cmrt at great length on hU lpwn beh%tf, contending that the ejyii^nce for the Crown was generally uqreli. able and conflicting.

After bearing the Crow* Prosecutor and his Honor's rotams of the evidence, the jury,, after a brief re* tirement;, returned a vardiot of guilty on the first and mm serious count in the indictment —that of attempt ing to inflict grievous bodily harm. The prisoaer wa* accordingly re. manded till 10 o'clock tj»e. (4je* morning for sentence. .. -„

W. N. Cathro was sentence*} to three years' imprisonment with hard labour in the Terrace Gaol.

Percy Fisher was sentenced to two years with hard labour.