SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 51, 22 August 1911, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

WETXINGTON SESSION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Supreme Court criminal sittings vrere continued this morning before Mr. Justice Sim. Annie Peterson was charged with unlawfully using an instrument. The case was heard last sessions, but the Full Bench afterwards ordered a new trial on the ground that the jury had been misdirected. The new trial" took place last week, but the jury disagreed, and a further trial was ordered before a fresh jury. Mr. Xeave prosecuted for the Crown, and Mr. Herdman was for the defence. In selecting a jury Mr. Herdman challenged six jurors, the maximum for a defence, and Mr. Neave twelve. At the end of four and a quarter hours the jury could not agree, and Mr. Neave applied for a new trial. If.a new trial is decided on, it will take place to-morrow. Alfred Rritis, r. colored man, was charged with selling beer without a license at Wellington on June 4, As he had been twice convicted of a similar offence, he elected to be tried by a jury. Evidence was given that two constables, disguised as man-o'-warsmen, visited a house in Taranaki street, and the proprietor sold them beer, which he got from Britis next door. The case had not concluded when the Court rose.

PALMERSTON NORTH SESSIONS,

Palmerston North, Last Night. The Supreme Court sittings opened today, the Chief Justice (Sir R. Stout) presiding. True bills were returned in each case.

The whole day was occupied in hearing a charge of assault with intent against .Cornelius Murphy, James McKenzie and Frederick Richard Kinchant. The assault was alleged to have been committed on Alfred Ba<lcock and to have arisen out of a row at the opening of Trov's billiard room at Mataroa, foilowed by three men attacking Badcock at his house with fists, boots and a Siammer, splintering his jaw and inflicting other injuries. The defence was that it was Badcock who had the hammer, and that Murphy had taken it from him and hit him with his fist. There was a large amount of evidence, nearly evervono being accused of drunkenness, and the Chief Justice commented on the manner in which liquor was so freejy obtained where there was apparently no license. The Chief Justice summed up strongly against the accused, but the jury, after being locked up for four hours to-night, disagreed. The Crown Prosecutor applied for a new trial.