SUPREME COURT.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 216, 18 April 1873, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SESSION. April 10th. (Before his Honor Mr. Justice Chapman ) MANSLAUGHTER. Jolin Grleeson was indicted for haying, at Naseby, on March. 5, unlawfully killed one Walter Mornington. The facts of the case shortly stated are these : On. the afternoon of the first ult., two men named Mornington and Richards, when coming across a gully from the direction of the township of Naseby, and being under the influence of liquor, met a man named John G-leeson coming down, the gully, carrying a bundle of scrub ; and after having some words with him, they commenced to fight. When a few blows had been exchanged, G-leeson knocked Mornington down, and then went away to his hut, : close by. Some men who had seen the fight, and not observing Mornington getting up, went to where he was lying, and on lifting him up, found him to be in a dying state. Dr. Dick was sent for, and on reaching the spot, ordered his removal to a tent, where, on examining him, he pronounced him to be dead. The medical advice went to show that the blow itself could not have caused death ; the back of the deceased s head exhibited marks which must have been caused by coming in contact with some hard substance. The prisoner defended himself in a short speech, in which he alluded to the fact of his having been ax*rested in 1871 on a groundless charge of insanity. He complained that after being set at liberty and returning to Naseby; he was constantly insulted and interfered with by the deceased and his companion, and ■- Sergeant M'Cluskey never gave him any protection. He also complained that Sergeant M'Cluskey had subjected him to persecution ; that he was never told Mornington was dead until he was arrested ; and that he was never asked if he had any witnesses. He declared he was as innocent as'any man who had ever stood in the dock. The jury, after a short retirement, returned a verdict of .not guilty, and the prisoner was discharged.

OBTAINING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENCES. Arthur Edward Hastings was indicted for having, at Lawrence, on March 4, obtained the sum of £2, by means of a valueless cheque. He was undefended. The prisoner's defence was that he expected to get money at Tokomairiro, and intended to pay it into the bank there. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and prisoner, who gave his age as 28, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment with hard labor. • The same prisoner was further indicted for having at Lawrence, on March 4, endeavored to obtain the sum of £2 ss. from one George Leston, by.means of a valueless cheque. He pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment.