WELLINGTON SUPREME COURT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8351, 7 February 1907, Page 5

WELLINGTON SUPREME COURT.

By Telegraph —Press Association. WELLINGTON, February 6> This morning the Supreme Court resumed hearing of the case in which Francis John Eugene Baucke was charged with having, on January 18th last, discharged a revolver with intent to do grevious bodily harm to H. E. Baucke. He was also charged with having been found by night in possession of a revolver with intent to break into the dwelling house of Frank Herman Baucke; with having assaulted H. E. and F. H. Baucke; with having fired a revolver at night with intent to intimidate the Bauckes. Mr Myers appeared as Crown Prosecutor, . and Mr Skerrett was counsel for the defence. The offence charged is alleged to have occurred at Scarborough (near Pahiatua) on January 18th, and to have arisen out of a supposed attempt by accused to enter the dwellinghouse of the complainants, who are his cousins. There were unfortunate domestic differences between the parties, and it is asserted that accused's presence was due to a desire on his part to intensify the cause of the differences. After evidence had been heard and counsel had addressed the jury, accused made a satement that he had absolutely no intention of inflicting any injury on his cousins. He simply discharged the weapon with intention to facilitate his escape. In summing up, his Honour said that whatever might be the jury's opinion as to whether accused actually intended to injure his cousins; it seemed to his Honour that, on the testimony of the Crown witnesses, an assault in law had been proved, and that no sufficient justification had been adduced to justify the use of a revolver. But before it could be held that .'an assault had been committed, it must be found that accused presented the revolver at one of the complainants, and threatened to shoot, and did not simply fire it up in the air, as alleged by the defence. It was for the jury to weigh the evidence and decide. Baucke was found guilty of common assault. Sentence was deferred. Alfred William Condon, aged about 19, was acquitted on a charge of having indecently assaulted a girl aged 17. There is a second and similar indictment to be heard against accused in regard to the girl's sister. James Bryant, for having forged a receipt for a money order telegram and a receipt for money, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment.

I CABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph—P« ess Association—Copvrijjbt,