SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 53, 24 August 1911, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

PALMERSTON NORTH SESSIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston North, Yesterday. At the Supreme Court the trial commenced of John Owen, who was arrested at Auckland recently on a charge of attempted murder at Foxlon five years ago. The charge was made up of separ. ate indictments alleging attempted murder, assault, demanding money with menaces, and intimidating. The chief witness, Easton, who employed accused, stated that accused demanded money, and on being refused, pointed a gun at witness. He also made a lunge with an axe, and finally fired the gun as witness was running away.

Palmerston North, Last Night. At the Supreme Court to-day John Owen was charged with (1) attempted murder; (2) assault; (3) demanding money with menaces; (4) intimidation; all arising out of his assault on Augustus Percy Easton, a farmer, at Moutoa, Foxton, on April 21, 1006. He threatened Easton with a knife and axe and fired at him with a single breechloader while he demanded money from Easton, who was writing out a cheque for his wages. Prisoner was recognised in Auckland by finger-prints after being arrested for resisting the police. Owen was found guilty on the second charge, and will be sentenced to-morrow. John Stella, a farmer, of Ohakame, was charged with killing and stealing a pig at Rangataua on July 14, the property of Martin O'Driscoll. Accused shot the pig with a pea-rifle on his own property, and next night was caught carting the pig away by three witnesses. Accused said he took the pig for a wild one. After the jury had retired for one hour and fifteen minutes a verdict of not guilty was returned.

WELLINGTON SESSIONS. Wellington, Last Night. The criminal sittings were continued to-day before Mr. Justice Sim. Arthur Frederick Charles Davies, on a cliarge of theft from a dwelling, came up for sentence, and was admitted to probation for 18 months, and during that time is to abstain from alcoholic liquors. AUCKLAND SESSIONS. Auckland. Yesterday. In the Supreme Court Charles Hazeldine was charged with assault with intent on a woman. He was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, with hard labor, the judge considering the jury's recommendation to mercy on account of prisoner's youth and previous good character. John Lionel Melva was charged with false pretences at Eltham, New Plymouth and Auckland, he also having convictions against him for-similar offences elsewhere. He was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment, with hard labor, and five years' reformative treatment.