GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 197, 17 February 1912, Page 5

GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT,

By Telegraph—Press Association. Taihape, Last Night. At the Police Court to-day, Peter Fergusson, shepherd at Erewhon station, was charged with indecently assaulting a married woman. The alleged assault took place at the house in the da,y time, during the husband's absence. Accused was committed for trial, bail being allowed.

TARDY TERRITORIALS,

Christchurch, Last Night. Several young men who have failed to take the oath of allegiance under the Defence Act were before the Magistrate to-day, and in a number of cases fines of £2 were inflicted.

IMPORTATIONS OF GAME. , AucklandrLast Njght., ~

Included in the cargo of the Morea, Which arrived this morning, were a large number of English' partridges, Mongolian pheasants, teal apd pintail ducks, all purebred. This probably is the largest shipment of its kind ever brought to New Zealand. The birds were imported by the Tauranga Acclimatisation Society. The voyage mortality was somewhat heavy among the partridges, the death roll being about 40 out of 150.^.

AN UNUSUAL CASE. Cristchurch, Last Night,

Mr. Bailey, S.M., gave his reserved dedecision in the case against James Worrall and Frank McCullough, who were charged with distributing dodgers or handbills on January lfi and February 2. The Magistrate held that the card of membership of the Passive Resisters' Union, in regard to which the information was laid in the second case, was not a dodger or handbill, and he dismissed the cases. In regard, to the handbills against compulsory training, which it was admitted the defendants distributed, but which they ceased distributing when told its distribution was illegal, a fine of iss and costs was imposed on each defendant.

PRISONER DECLINES A RE-TRIAL. Christchurch, Last Night.

On Wednesday Mr. Justice Denniston informed Wm. James, who had been convicted the day before of theft, and sentenced to three years' imprisonment, that he was entitled, if he wished, to have another trial, as one of the jurors hearing the case had not been sworn. Prisoner elected to have a free trial this morning. However, James informed the Judge that he had not quite understood His Honor's remark the other day, and he was now prepared to accept the verdict of the eleven jurors. A new trial will therefore not take place.

SHIP'S FIREMAN MISSING. Wellington, Last Night. John Smith, ship's fireman, who was fined on Tuesday for assaulting John Ede, butcher, on the Mararoa, is missing. He was last seen on the Mararoa on Tuesday night, travelling steerage to Lytteltbn, and was not seen to go ashore. The crew of the vessel think he has either jumped or fallen overboard.