SUPREME COURT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2578, 10 May 1923, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

PALMERSTON SITTINGS

In his charge to the grand jury at the opening of the Palmerston sittings of the Supreme Court on Tuesday, His Honour said that they would be called -upon to consider several cases. All the charges however, related to dishonest practices, and the jury would be pleased to know that This district had remained free from sexual crimes ,nnd crimes of violence.

Time bills Avere returned in the following eases: —John Percival Morcom, alleged false pretenees (tweDe charges); John Francis O’Keefe, alleged theft from dwelling; Hugh Cameron Murdock, alleged theft of £5.

In the ca.se of Eliza Kathleen Dalby, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of bigamy Mr Oakley said that accused had had a hard time since coming with her husband, to New-Zealancl in 1911. They had landed in the Dominion as immigrants with only £4 in cash and accused had worked for 5s a week, while her husband, who . was of drunken habits, worked elsewhere. Accused had had practically to keep her husband, who had done very little work. She had had a series of operations and a very hard struggle, which had finally become too great for her, and she had gone through a form of marriage with another man. He asked for probation and leniency in consideration of what he had stated. \ His Honour said that the offence of bigamy committed by a woman was-not the same as when committed by a man. Where a man took possession of a woman by fraud that was a serious, matter, but in this case he would take into consideration the special circumstances, and thought that the requirements of the law would be met if accused were released on her own recognaisance of £SO, with' a liability to come - up for sentence if called upon.