SUPREME COURT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1527, 18 December 1886, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

Timaru—Wednesday, December 15. [Before Hie Honor Mr Justice Johnston.] LARCENY. John Croinie was charged with the larceny of a portmanteau and clothing, the property of F. W. Drummond, on the sth August. Prisoner pleaded not guilty of stealing, and was defended by Mr C. T. H. Perry. The portmanteau, which contained the clothing, was lost out of a buggy between St. Andrews and Timaru. The prisoner was met on the road, and was afterwards found wearing a pair of trousers that were contained in the portmanteau. Messrs John Jackson and J. 11. Sutter were called, and gave the prisoner an excellent character. After a great deal of 'egal argument, and an explanation by His Honor, the jury returned a verditof not guilty, holding that sufficient time had not elapsed between the loss of the articles and the arrest of the prisoner toprove felonious intent. LARCENY 0* A CHEQUE. Patrick .Nolan was again brought up, and in answer to His Honor, the Gaoler said that Nolan was prepared to pay the necessary expenses incurred. His Honor said he thought this was a proper case to put prisoner under the provisions of the Probation Act. He would therefore put the prisoner under probation for six months subject to the conditions in the statute, and to (be payment by the prisoner to Frank White of £l6, the amount of the cheque the latter cashed. STEALING FROM THE PERSON. Richard Dale was charged with having stolen from the person of Robert Rennie the sum of £4O, Prisoner, who was defended by Mr Hatnersley, pleaded not guilty. From the evidence given in this case it appears Rennie is a miner, and arrived in Timaru on the 28th October,, leaving immediately for the Timaru races. On the racecourse be spent £B, and then returned to Timaru and went to the Royal Hotel and had tea. After tea he had some more drink,, and got very drunk. The prisoner then struck up an acquaintance with him, and they com menoed throwing for drinks. Prisoner wanted Ronnie tp throw, for “ £1 a pop,” but this the latter refused to do. Shortly after'some one in the room offered to bet Rennie that ’, ha had no ittdoey, when ho immediately f reduced a bundle of notes, which he replaced in his pocket. Dale was then seen by a witness named Snoswell to seize Rennie by the- muffler with his right hand, and put his left into his pocket. Information was shortly afterwards given to Detective Rirby, [and prisoner was arrested, but very little money was found on him. The jury returned a verdict of guilty and prisoner was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with hard labor. DIVORCE. HALFORD V, HALFORD AND MURPHY. Mr White applied that the rule nisi made in June lasi in this case be made absolute.—Granted, CIVIL SITTING. Timaru—Friday, December 17. [Before His Honor Mr Justice Jonnston, and a jury of four.] J. Black v. M. Friedlander, claim . £lO2 14s 2d. Mr Wilding appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Purnell for the defendant. The following jury were empanelled, —Messrs H, J. Turner (Foreman), M. O’Brien, W. Collins, and J, Stephenson.

Phis was an Ashburton case, and the claim was made for the use of a certain reserve in Sydenham, let by the plaintiff to Friedlander Bros, of which firm defendant ia a member. The defence was that defendant had suffered damage through being deprived of the lease. A great deal of evidence was taken but the case was not conclcded when the Court adjourned. [By Telegraph.] Invercargill, Dec. 15. In the Supreme Court, to-day, a verdict for the defendant was given by Mr Justice Williams in the case in which a constable stationed at Mataura was sued for damages by a man whom he had apprehended without a warrant on a charge of stealing a dog, which the officer had found on his premises. His Honor held that there were circumstances which justified a constable in arresting a man without warrant. In the Divorce Court a rule nisi was 1 granted in the case Sheridan v. Sheridan ami Johnston. It was the husband’s petition for a divorce on the grounds of his wife’s adultery. The co-respondent is a youth of 17. No costa were asked for against him.