SUPREME COURT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9459, 31 May 1909, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

Press Association. Dunedin, May 99. The Supreme Court criminal sittings were completed tn-day. Matthew Christie was sentenced to mx months-' imprisonment and ordered to receive 15 lashes for indecent assault oa a yonng girl, and Sidney McDonald was acquitted on the same charge. It was not shown that McDonald was a party with Christie to the offone'. Michael O’Doiuie.h? was 'found not guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by bribery. No evidence was offered in a second charge, and His Honoredireoted that a verdict of not guilty should be returned. Christchurch, May 30.

In divorce, before Justice Deuniston. Louisa Martin petitioned for a dissolution of her marriage with James Crosby Martin, of Auckland, barrister, on the ground of adultery. There was no appearance of the respondent. F. K. Hunt gave evidence that the respondent was a corespondent in the divorce case of Simms v, Simms and Martin, and letters written by the respondent admitting misconduct were put in. A decree nisi Was granted. Arthur Gibbs petitioned for'a dissolution of his marriage with Annie Gibbs, on the ground of desertion. There was no appearance of the respondent. Petitioner gave evidence that he was married in August, 190 S, and his wife left him in November, and he had not seen her since. Respondent had refused to do the washing or the cooking, and went away to Wellington. His Honor granted a decree, subject to further evidence as to service. Mary Harding petitioned for the dissolution £of her marriage with Reginald James Henry Harding on the ground of the latter’s desertion. Respondent did not appear. Evidence was given that the parties were married in 1899. The husband left a few months afterwards, and petitioner procured a maintenance order. The respondent kept up his payments under the order for some years, and then petitioner lost sight of him altogether, and for the last five years she had been earning, her own living. His Honor granted a decree.