SUPREME COURTS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1098, 28 April 1883, Page 1

SUPREME COURTS.

Wanganui, April 25. The Supreme Court sittings were continued to-day. Heine, for robbery from the person, was sentenced to six months. Robert Nixon, charged with having had carnal knowledge of a girl under 12, was acquitted, his trial lasting until seven at night. Phoebe Veitch, for child murder, was arraigned, and pleaded not guilty. The date of her trial is not. fixed yet. Haterio, charged with committing perjury in the Supreme Court in an ejectment case, will be tried to-morrow before a Maori jury, the first of the kind iu New Zealand, * April 26,

The trial of Haterio, for perjury, resulted in the Maori jury convicting him, but recommending him to mercy. Sentence was postponed to next morning. Pohuvanui, for unluwfu’ly wounding his wife was also tried beiore a Maori jury, a.id acquitted on the ground of insanity. The Chief Justice ordered him to he detained until the Colonial Secretary’s pleasure was known, Both trials were conducted without difficulty, and the two Maori juries were intelligent, and their behavior and verdict not distinguishable form Europeans under similav circumstances, Pohuranui challenged fifteen of his countrymen before a jury could be empanelled,

Christchurch, April 25. To-day Mr Justice Johnson gave judgment for defendant in the case of Jonas and others v, Jones, confirming the latter in possession of the land in dispute—section 12440, Opihi—on the ground that there had been no fraud in the registration of transfer, though the the transfer had been made under a mistake resulting from the negligence of all the parties concerned. Invercargill, April 25. At the Supreme Court to-day William Clegg was sentenced to two years for an unnatural offence.

The charges against Massey, late Town Clerk of Dunedin, and his wife, for stealing aad disposing of Waterworks debentures-were taken up at the Supreme Court to-day. Mr Stout pro-

secuted and Messrs Chnpman and Fitchett defended. After the opening address for the prosecution, Detective Henderson, Gibson (the; present Town Clerk), Fiaser, Keath Ramsay, - W. S. Fish, and Jamieson were examined. Gibson was subjected to & long examination, but nothing of great importance was adduced. The object of the defence seemed to be to show that it was possible someone else than Massey had stolen the debentures from the Corporation offices. A Melbourne stockbroker identified the female prisoner fully as Lucy Brown and Louisa Allen. Ihe payment of large sums to Massey in Dunedin and Christchurch, on drafts was proved, and Drape, the holder of the original debentures, proved that ho had never parted with them. This closed the case for the prosecution, After the usual addresses the jury returned a verdict of guilty against Massey, and not guilty against his wife.