SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 20 September 1907, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

Per Press Association. Wellington, Thursday. The case before the Supreme Court to-day is a sequel to the fatal accident which occurred at Miramar in November last, when a carter named Corfield, cmployed by John Keir, was killed by a live electric light wire lying across the road, and which he went to lift out of tlie way. Keir is now suing the Electric Light Company for £lO5, being the amount which his insurance- company had paid to Corfield's widow. Negligence on the part of the Electric Company is alleged. The case is proceeding.' ' Latar. In the case before the Supreme Court, Keir v. the Electric Light Company, at' the conclusion of the evidence for the plaintiff. Mr. Skerrett asked for an adjournment in order that corroborative evidence might be obtained from Sydney as to the marriage between the deceased and Mrs. Corfield and her dependence upon him. After some argument it was agreed that the witnesses for the defence should be called without prejudice to Mr. Myers' right to address the court or move for a nonsuit. His Honour reserved his decision upon the application for an adjournment. Evidence was then called on behalf of the defendant company. It went to show that the wire was properly insulated, and was stretched from pole to pole at a reasoiable and safe height from the roadway. The case stands adjourned sine die. Hokitika, Thursday. At the Supreme Court Judge Chapman congratulated the jury on Hie lightness 'of the calendar. There were only two cases.

' A young man charged with theft from a train and persons at Reefton, was' admitted to probation for two years. The other charge, committing an unnatural offence, against an aged Chinaman, is being heard with closed doors.

Later. Ah Foo, undefended, was found guilty and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. The Judge remarked that he was not fit to be at large. Hokitika, Last Night. This afternoon the breach of promise case Ann Murdoch, of Dillmans, versus John Hanna, a farmer at Sefton, Canterbury, claim for £SOO damages, was heard before Mr. Justice Chapman without a jury. The'case was dismissed without costs, the Judge holding that plaintiff's failing to corroborate her- version was fatal. This concluded the business, the time of the court' having been engaged three and a-half hours, a record for the West Coast. Gisborne, Thursday. Judge Denniston commented on the mild character of the calendar and the absence of sexual offences. Gisborne, Last Night. William Charles Whitfield was charged with perjury in a case in the police court regarding the theft of a case of beer. The jury disagreed. James and Robert Leslie were charged with assault on John Middleton. The stories of the two parties were directly contradictory, and the jury had not brought in a verdict when the court rose. Oliver Goldsmith pleaded guilty to horse-stealing. His Honor said horse-stealing seemed to be epidemic, and he would have to take strong steps to check it. Sentence was deferred. Charles Single was charged with horse-stealing. The jury was still out when the court rose.