SUPREME COURT.

Southland Times, Issue 1282, 22 July 1870, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

— — 9 A session of the Supreme Court was opened in the Provincial Council Chamber, before His Honor Mr . Justice Chapman, yesterday, at 2 p.m. The following are the names of the gentlemen forming the Grand Jury:— Messrs W. H. Calder (foreman), J. Hay, I\ Nutter, J. M'Pberson, CX Lumsden, A. Toshack, P. H. Geisow.r W. Cochran, P. Dalrymple, A. B. Vivian, J. W. Mitchell, J. Stock, T. Watson, T. Pratt, and D. M' Arthur. „ ;' / His Honor, addressing the Grand Jury said : — Gentlemen, I find, on referring to my note book, that it , is now two yean since I met you here. During that time I hope you and your families hare enjoyed good health. I am glad to observe there is not much for you to do on this occasion. There are only four cases against three persons. The first is that of George 'Meredith, against whom there .. are two indictmento. for forging and uttering, certain, cheques, or uttering them, knowing' them to be forged. In this Tease the facts are extremely simple, requiring no comment from me. The second case is one of larceny, which is also simple; and the third is that, of the woman M'Coy, charged with an attempt to murder by poison. Owing to my having arrived so lately, I haver not had time to read over all. the depositions in the last case, which are. somewhat lengthy, but from what I have , read;"- I do * not -think 1 you will have any difficulty with it either. I hope you have not suffered any incon. venience through, my not coming at the time first fixed for the opening of the court/That delay occurred in consequence 1

of the Phoebe— the only boat leaving Wellington, where I have been attending the Court of Appeal— being detained for the mail. Another slight inconvenience may possibly have been occasioned by my not reaching town in time this morning. That might have been obviated by running the train a little earlier, which would also have secured the quicker arrival of the mail. The jury were then sent to their room, with instructions to send in a short case as soon as possible, that business might be proceeded with. After & pause of a few minutes, business was resumed by true bills on both indictments being returned against George Meredith, alias John Jones. Prisoner, on being placed in the dock, • and having the indictments read over to him, in both cases pleaded guilty to the charge of uttering, but not of forgery. His Honor ordered prisoner to be i brought up on Saturday morning. , The particulars of this case were given , at the time Meredith was examined before the Resident Magistrate, and need not be now recapitulated. A true bilH?as also returned against William Simpson, for larceny. The indictment set forth that on the 16th of April last, he stole from the house of Patrick Malone, accommodation-house-keeper, Lowther, three £1 notes, a cheque for £1 17s 6d, and a silver watch, valued at £4. = Prisoner pleaded " Not Guilty." A petit jury, with. Mr G. Goodwillie as foreman, having been empannelled, Mr T. M. Macdonald, Crown Prosecutor, briefly stated the case, and called Michael Malone, who deposed that on the evening of the 15th April, the priso^ner came to his brother's house. Early en the following morning he heard his brother's bedroom door creak ; went towards it, and met prisoner as if coming from it. Prisoner wanted out. He let him out, and then searched the cigar box in the bedroom, in which he had a short time before placed some money, and iv which other papers, &c , were kept. He discovered their loss, and told his brother. After a while his brother charged prisoner — who had returned to the house —with the theft. Prisoner offered to allow being; searched. He was ultimately ..searched, and in his purse was found a note which witness had previously described. The cheque and other papers were subsequently found itr* a bed -in the room next to the one occupied by prisoner. Was quite sure - nobody had entered his brother's bedroom from the time he had placed the money there until he met prisoner coming out of . it. The note and some other papers were produced in court. • The - prisoner, although at the disadvantage of having & great impediment in his speech, subjected the witness to a rather severe cross-eramina-tioD, in the course of which he made him conf'ss that card playing had been going on in the house all night, that sundry quarrels had occurred, and that he (witness) had not seen prisoner coming out of the bedroom, but merely fancied he had heard him. George Eussell, master mariner, was examined at length, but did not seem to - -know- much about it. He had been in the house on the night in question, heard of - the robbery^ saw prisoner searched, and the note taken from his purse. In cross-examination he also spoke of the manner in which the night had been spent as rather boisterous, a little drinking, "gambling, and betting going on, in which - prisoner, witness, and the landlord of the bouse joined. His Honor summed up in his usual careful manner, remarking that the evidence was at once consistent both with prisoner's guilt and innocence. He also drew the attention of the jury to the fact that the witness, M. Malone, had not given a direct reply to- the question of the court as to the nature of his brother's illness [It had previously been intimated that P. Malone, the chief witness, was unable to attend], and it was for the jury to consider whether an indisposition to run the gauntlet of the cross-examination might not have something to do with his absence. The case against the prisoner rested mainly on the brother's evidence, and it was for them to decide whether that witness's story was sufficiently credible. After a very short consultation, a verdict of *' Not Guilty" was returned. The Grand Jury brought in a true bill in Mary Ann M'Coy's case. The foreman then reciprocated the good wishes His Honor had been pleased to express, after which, they were thanked and discharged. The court was then adjourned until this morning.

" How is it,** said a man to his neighbour, "that Parson W , the laziest man living, writes these interminable long sermons ?" " Why," says the other, "he probably gets to writing, and is too lazy to stop." " Come and dine with me, Pat, though remember I have only a piece of beef and potatoes for you." " Oh, my dear fellow, don't make the laist apology about the dinner ; it's the very same I should have had at home barrin' the beef.'' ,, A constable in Kentucky, in publishing some personal property for sale, put up a notice with the following clause:-—* I wyll xpos fir sail the 5 day 1866 uv Jan i Won ly tie rone horse, or so much tharof as ma be nesary. to satisfi Bed gugment." Irish Wit.— An Irish girl at play, on Sunday, being accosted by the priest, "Good morning, daughter of the Evil One," meekly replied, " Good, morning, father." A Pennsylvania farmer states that he cored his daughter of the Grecian bend by pouring water on her and holding her out in the sun until she warped back again. The woman, who neglects the buttons of her husband's shirt front is not the wife of his bosom.