SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1919, Page IX

SUPREME COURT.

GISBORNE SESSIONS By Telegraph.— Press Association. •Gisborne, Dec. 6. In the Supreme Court Pera Aperahama, convicted of theft, was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Frank Edwards, for theft of bicycles, was sentenced to IS months' imprisonment and declared a habitual criminal. The court is occupied in hearing *i' claim for £SOOO damages made oy aeveral Natives against David Cameron, •). R. Murphy, and D. Hair for traspass by draining Repongaeae Lake, thus affecting Maori eel fisheries. The case is being heard by a mixed jury of Natives and Europeans. When the case was resumed this morning counsel for defendants complained that some of the Maori members of the jury had been conversing with Natives interested, who had endeavored to influence them after the court had taken evidence on the subject of the alleged interferenceHis Honor Mr. Justice Chapman, stated that he would adjourn the trial till Monday. His, present opinion was that the statements of witnesses called by Mr. Burnard, counsel for defendants, had not been answered, and he would probably be impelled to discharge jury without any reflection being made on an individual juror.