SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 213, 5 October 1903, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

(Before Hu Honor Mr Justice Edwards.) Satbuday, October 3rd. In the qtt:S'ion of the Eahotu Post Office robbery His Honor made an ord.r to re'tore to the Chief Poatmiflter the money fou <1 on Allen, namely £4l 13s Sd. Mr fourued £l6 3;, being htnoun! leas 17* ■ hat Alien had paid tor a passage to England. SENTENCE,

J. W. Robarts, who pleaded guilty to a coupld of ch'irgfs of horae-stealing was sentenced to 18 months. ALLEGED PER.TOBT. The charge of pa;jury, preferred agrinst A. R. Brandon, was then taken,

Mr Kerr (Sfcaodish and Kerr) Grown Prosecutor, c:mduc L .ed the prosecution. The accusad was unand conducted his defence wii.h c-wsidiira'de ability. Evidence was given by A. H. Holmes, R. G. Pardy, Senzemt Haddrtll, W. State, Edward B-et, W. HoneyfWd fcr the prosecution and wan of a purely formal character.

For the dofence accused called S rgesnt Haddrell and Oor.stubla Wonds ns to an examination of the hut at Honeyfield's, J. W. Sycamore as to the agreement made between them for accused to watch the fishing nets and boats at Moturoa, James Browns who admitted that accused had several times entered the hut at Honeyfield's and lighted the fire euly in the morning when witness and Best, who were sleeping theiv, without dis'urbing them, J. Oliver, mghtwa'-chmao, audj William West, livery stable ferper, as to his (accused's) movements. The accused then briefly addressed tbe jury. His Honor summed up very strongly against the accused, and said the offence was practically admitted, only the accused excused himself on the ground that he had given the wrong date. After dwelling on the heinous nature of the offence, particularly iii a charge of murder, His Honor said he should ask the jury in addition to finding him guilty to say if he was there at all on the night of the fire. After a short retirement the jury returned with a verdict of guilty, and that in their opinion the accused was not there at all. His Honor said he would not be doing his duty to pass a light sentence. He should impose the full penalty of seven years with hard labour,

IS DIVORCE. DOUGLAS V. DOUGLAS, WlFfi's PETITION:. Mr Samuel, and with fcim Mr Quil-j li»m (Govett and Quiltiain) appeared in support. The application was unopposed. The grounds of the application were the intemperate habits and failure of the respondent to contribute to the miintenance to his wife and six children. The petitioner and Mr Holme*, late Clerk of the Court, having given evidence of the sad circumstances which led up to the proceedings, His Honor said no further evidence was necessary. A decree nisi would be granted to be made absoluie in three mont La. RESTITUTION OP CONJUQUi RIGIITS,

Dew v. Dew ; husbrnd's petition. Mr. Samuel, who appeared for petitioner, called petitioner and Mr NewCon King in support of the petition. The fact?, as staged by Mr Stmuel ar.d supported by the eridei ce, wore that difference of opiniou took place regarding religion and property, the wife having succeeded in getting a lease of the section occupied by the ptrtioa in her own name and had practically turned her husband out, She held very peculiar views on religion and ap I peared to be without the forbearance whfch should characterise a good christian wife. Mr Dew had left homeand made a really good home and asked his wife to j,in him or let him juin her. She had refused without apparent reason, Mr Kind's evidence was to tho effect that petitioner was a hard-working, steady, upright, estimable man.

The Judge decided that an order be made granting the restitution of conjugal rights DIYOHCB. Brodie v. Brodie; Mr Fi'zherbert for petitioner, on the ground of desertion. Evidence was given in support by the petitioner, who lived at Toko and h's stepson (Robert Downes), and was to the effect that on petitioner, who was then living in Napier, returning from a business trip, he found his house emp'y, his wife having sold ofl' everything and left Napier, She had never returned and all attempts to find her had failed.

A decree nisi was granted to be made absolute in three months,

Mordsley v. Mordsley, wife's petition.

Mr T. S. Weston, of Weston and WestOD, for p3titioner. This was a similar case to the last. The husband had, after several periods of absence, deserted his wife altogether. The parties were then living in Ashburton, and the husband had not baen seen or heard of since.

The petitioner and W. J. Qamblin gave evidence in support and a decree nisi was granted to be made absolute in thrae months,

The Court adjourned at 4 p.m. until 10 a.m. to day.