SUPREME COURT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 7 March 1907, Page 3

SUPREME COURT

Per Press Association. Palmerston North, March 0. This morning, Thomas John Lesley was put forward for sentence. The Judge, in passing sentence, said prisoner had been found guilty of one of The grossest offences known to the law. It was bad enough to commit sucli a crime upon a young child, but infinitely worse to have broken the trust imposed on him and committed upon his • iu"i daughter. Therefore he would be sentenced to the maximum allowed by flic: Legislature, but would be spared the degradation of the lash, solely because be had not inflicted any actual injury upon the child, though lie had done his wurst to corrupt her. lie was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with Uanl labor.

I-VVEKCAiiGir.i,, Marcli 0. At the Supreme Court, tho case of Ethel Benjamm v. Horace Bastings, claim for £ll7 professional services rendered in connection sulk the Jnvci'. cargill Licensing Appeal, defendant moved to add several others as codefendants, alleging that lie had acted as President of the Jnyercargill Licensed Victualler*' Association,'of which others were members. Plaintiff admitted through eoun el tlm! the others were liable, bu< r id that Hast-

ings had authorised her to engage Mr Sim and Mr lloskin at a fee of 11)0 guineas each to appear on behalf of petitioners His Honor added co-dc-iendants, and the ea-e was afterwards struck out of his list for the present aiti i'lgs.

Arguments wera heard in the appeal cjite Southland County v .John Turn bull (Waikaia). A demand had been made on defendant for County rate*, based on the Valuation Department's estimates of land, which showed agri-

cultural and mining interest on both of which respondent was rated. The Magistrate had held that defendant could not bo rated on both interests .Decision was reserved.