IN THE COURTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 65, 12 March 1912, Page 6

IN THE COURTS.

(Per Press Association )

Napier, March 12

Hearing of .evidence in the Sipison“Tribune” libel action was concluded last night. Counsel addressed tho jury this morning. Four youths were yesterday fined .£1 and costs for failing to register ’under the Defence Act. One melodramatically declared: “I am guilty but ) have an -excuse. I object to joining the Territorials because I believe count pulsory military training to 1 "ho urn just, unbenefioial, and unnecessary.” His Worship said lie was no judge cl that. It was the law of the country and would have to be. obeyed; Defendant said that rather than obey the law he would leave the country.

Napier, March 12

In the libel action, Simson, the plaintiff, giving evidence in rebuttal, admitted striking Garrick, a reporter, and also Ernest Davis, in a railway carriage in Auckland, but declared hr received great provocation in both instances. He also admitted striking a man named Corbonld in a restaur rant, hut denied, absolutely, throwing a bottle at a barmaid in the Hastings Hotel.

Auckland, March 11

• In the Magistrate’s Court to-day (in chambers), an application was made to Mr G. C. Kettle, S.M., by a married couple who wished to adopt a female child born in Auckland on January 23th, 1909. Tho mother of tho child had signed a document, and produced a copy of the birth certificate which set forth that the child was illegitimate. When the mother gave o\ idence she stated that she was a married woman. She and her husband were living apart for some time, and her husband was not the father of the child. She, gave the- name of a man who she swore was the father, and produced his consent to tho adoption. Mr Kettle said that the mother could not illegitimatiso her child in tills way. and tit- was a question whether the child should have been registered as “illegitimate.” It was a very important question, because if a married man or woman could register children as illegitimate in this way, grievous wrong might bo done them. It- was a question which should be carefully looked into, and it might be necessary to suggest an amendment of the Act relating to the registration of births. The bearing was adjourned to enable the Magistrate and counsel who appeared in support of the application to look into the matter.

Palmerston, March 11

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday L. E. Mextod was convicted and ordered to pay costs (7s) for failing to render service required under the i)elence Act. Joseph McAvonne, on a similar charge, was fined 20s and costs.

Nelson, March 11

At the Supreme Court to-day before Mr Justice Chapman, the Crown entered a nolle prosequi in the case of Jalnos Whiting for incest. Prisoner is. already serving a long sentence for offences out of which the charge arose. Harry Potter was charged with assaulting Edith Harr with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The couple had been living together, and since Potter’s committal be had married the woman, who, when called, declined to give evidence against her husband. His Honor upheld her objection, and there being no other evidence, lie directed the jury to acquit prisoner, which was done.

In the divorce case, Sarah Orr v. Eric Orr, desertion, a decree nisi was granted.