SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 48, 18 August 1911, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE, WELLINGTON SESSIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Charles Dane, a man of weak intellect, was sentenced to imprisonment for life by Mr. Justice Chapman this afternoon. The crime is of an unmentionable character. His Honor (to Mr. Ostler, Crown Prosecutor): "What is known of accused?"

Mr. Ostler: "He was found guilty of attempted rape at Nelson fourteen years ago." "Without exception," declared his Honor, "this is the most shocking case that has ever come before me. You have admitted that guilt of a crime which, next to murder, is one of the most grievous known to our law. Within my recollection men were put to death for committing that crime. The law is more merciful now, and does not permit this, but it still regards it as one of the most grievous, and prescribes the severest punishment short of death." The Grand Jury, added his Honor, had recommended him to inflict flogging in crimes on young people, but he did not propose to do this on account of the severity of the sentence he would inflict and from the excuse that prisoner had had accidents and did things for which he could not account.

"Bolts and bars," added his Honor, "must be placed between prisoner and any possible victim." "The sentence of the court," he concluded, "is that you be imprisoned with hard labor for the rest of your life." A youth named Alfred Ernest Keeble, aged twenty yearß, who has had an exceedingly bad record, having been arrested for vagrancy when he was seventeen and for assaulting his mother (a very bad affair) when he was nineteen, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with hard labor for administering a noxious drug to a girl who lived near Pahiatua and for carnal knowledge.

His Honor characterised the offence in exceedingly strong terms. Edward Reynolds and Annie Peterson were charged with having used an instrument for an illegal purpose. Mr. Neave prosecuted for the Crown, and Mr. Wilford appeared for Reynolds and Mr. Herdman for Peterson. Accused had been tried together at the last criminal sessions and the jury had returned a verdict of "not guilty" by direction of the judge. Mr. Neave applied for a new trial on the ground of misdirection by the judge, holding that the accused mu9t be acquitted owing to lack of corroborative evidence and also because the judge had refused permission for accused to be tried separately. The Court of Appeal had ordered a new trial and he (Mr. Neave) was of opinion that the trials should be separate to-day. Mr. Wilford applied for a separate trial for Reynolds, which was granted. Peterson's case -was taken first, and Reynolds released on his own recognisances till Friday morning. After hearing evidence the jury retired for four hours, when the foreman reported there was no possibility of agreement. An order for a new trial was nude.

CHRISTCHURCH SESSIONS. Ohristchurch, Last Night. Clyde Price, for assaulting a girl under 16 years, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Allan James Dix, for breaking and entering and theft, was sentenced to three years' reformative treatment, sentence to be concurrent with one of twelve months he is at present serving. James Clarke, for sheep stealing, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.

A DIVORCE OAS®. Auckland, Last Night. A petition in divorce lodged by Stanley Herbert Carr, storekeeper, of Marakopa, near Itawhia, for dissolution of his marriage with Eliza Carr, boardinghousc keeper, in the snme district, was heard by Mr. Justice Edwards to-day. Desertion was submitted as the ground for the application. The parties were married in 1880, and lived together at Kaitaia, Onehunga and lionohaku, the petitioner keeping a store at the latteT place and his wife a boardinghouse. There were three children of the marriage, the youngest being 14 years of age. On one occasion a dance was held at the board; inghouse, and respondent had nearly every dance with a settler of the district. "She had nearly every dance with him," added the petitioner, "and in the morning I pointed out that I could not countenance conduct like that. She flew into a passion and said flic wished I was dead, and that she would not live with me again." He went on to say that she had never spoken to him since. Other evidence of desertion having been given, n decree nisi, to be made absolute ill three months, was granted.