SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 16, 12 February 1909, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

AUCKLAND SESSION'S. Anckiniul, February il. A Maori named Wharematanga,charged with abducting ;i unlive girl under sixteen yours of age, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour.

Auckland, Usl Sight. At the Supreme Court this afternoon, Albert Ernest; Trail was tried on n charge of having, at (.'oroinaudel, on •luly Kith, ISO!), gone through the marriage ceremony with a young woman liis wife, Elizabeth Catherine, whom he married on March 4, 18IHI, being then alive. The circumstances were tliat Trail, after living with Ihis lirst wife for some time after tfhoir marriage, 'separated Ifroni her, and in July of 10(13 married the second woman. The prisoner, when lirst charged, admitted that Tie knew the lirst "wife was alive just before he married the second one, but Ire had not seen her for ten or eleven years, and had been told that she was'dead. He also told the young woman lie married that he was not certain whether his lirst wile was alive or not. When charged, the prisoner remarked: "I. was suspecting something like this, lint 1 don't call it bigamy, as I had not seen my lirst wife for ten or eleven years when I married the second." After an hour's retirement, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

WEIjLINUTON sessions. Wellington, Last A'igbt. At. the Supreme Court to-day, Edward John Searle was brought forward for sentence, but as his counsel asked that Searle should bo allowed to peruse the papers in the ease, sentence was postponed till .Saturday. The hearing of tlio charge of stealing three ewes and a lamb preferred against John O'Keefe, or Otaraia, Wairarapa, was concluded, and the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. '