APPEAL COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 265, 7 April 1914, Page 5

APPEAL COURT.

A LO.VG LIST. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Monday. The Appeal Court opened to-day, with the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) and Justices Dennjston, Edwards and Sim on the Bench. There is a long list of cases. Fixtures were made for the first three days of this week, and then the Court adjourns till the l!)th.

Leave to appeal to the Privy Council was granted in the case of the Union S.S. Company v. the Wellington Harbor Board, and Acton Adams v. Rutherford. The Court is hearing the case Rex v! Holland. The prisoner was f»und guilty of sedition for a speech delivered" during the strike. The Chief Justice reserved wor the Appeal Court two questions—(l) Whether the first indictment disclosed an ofTcnce: (2) whether th» fact that the prisoner had been acquitted by a Magistrate on a summary .charge of inciting to resist the police, and that the evidence in proof of that 1 charge was the uttering of words in the second indictment, prevented his being convicted of sedition. The preliminary question was whether the plea o> "autrefois acquit'' could be made after the plea of not guilty on the indictment. The Solicitor-General appeared for the Crown, and Mr. Wilford and Mr. O'Regan for the prisoner. At the conclusion of legal argument the Court reserved its decision.

Tin- Court proceeded with the cuw, Rex v. Alfred William Altlred. The accused was tried'in Oaiuaru for arson. The Judge, directed the jury that there, was no evidence of Accused's mental condition to justify an acquittal on the ground of insanity. The jury, however, in answer to the usual question by the Registrar, said they found tii« prisoner guilty, but also handed in a document in which they expressed inc. opinion that accused was not responsible for his action at the time. The question for the Court of Appeal was this: "Does the verdict of the jury amount to a verdict of guilty?" Mr. Von Haast is appearing for the prisoner, and the Solicitor-General for the Crown. After hearing counsel, the Court reserved its decision.