SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 10, 12 June 1913, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

AUCKLAND. SESSIONS. Per Press Association. Auckland, Wednesday. In the Supreme Court to-day David Hughes pleaded guilty to a charge of causing actual bodily harm at Gisborne. He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labor and fined £lO and £5 costs, the ot;der to be suspended if the payments indicated are made. A lad named Lionel De Thierry, who was charged with the theft of a postal packet at Dargaville, was sentenced to three years' probation.

INVERCARGILL SESSIONS.. Invercargill, Last Night. At the Supreme Court, Sir ' Joshua Williams gave judgment in the Wallacetown Omnibus Company versus fright Stephenson and Co., claim £2lO for'damages arising out of a motor car collision. Defendants counter claimed for £250 for damages done to their car. His Honor held that the evidence showed that plaintiffs' driver was responsible''for the accident, and gave judgment for defendants on the claim, and for the full amount of the counter-claim with costs. lolin Gerrard appealed against the decision of the Magistrate for convicting him for having stolen a motor ear tvre, four cases, of petrol, and a quantity of carbide. Mr. E. Russell api peared for the Crown, and Mr. H. A. McDonald for the appellant. Mr. Russell said that as the appeal was in the 1 nature of a re-hearing, he supposed that the case for the prosecution woWd be opened in the usual way. His Honor said that the appeal was permitted under one or two {Justices of the Pence, and was taken by Justices assembled at the quarter sessions here. It was from a Magistrate's decision to the Supreme Court Judge. To his mind, the magi* trates were just as well qualified as were judges to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and in some instances perhaps better qualified. "However" concluded His Honor, "we have to take .the law as it stands, but it's a pity that it exists. Judge Denniston recently had something to say on the miestion." Evidence was then called -tor. -tie Crown.' A -rather remarkable episode occurred when Samuel Hazlett was giving evidence. This witness is at present undergoing a term of Imprisonment. He stated that he did not remember giving evidence in the Lower Court, and lie wag not sure whether what he said in evidence was correct or not. After further evidence had been given, the ease was duly adjourned