NAPIER SUPREME COURT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8476, 1 July 1907, Page 5

NAPIER SUPREME COURT.

ALLEGED ASSAULT ON A SHERIFF. By Telegraph—Press Association. NAPIER, June 28. At the Supreme Court, to-day, Charles Horace Kemp, for breach of vtte Bankruptcy Act, in failing to Ifeeep proper books, was admitted to ■**Bwelve months' probation and ordered to pay £ls Hugh Spiers, charged with attempting to rob and found guilty, was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment. Four youths, who pleaded guilty to criminally assaulting a girl at Hastings, were sentenced as follows: —William Robinson, two years' imprisonment; Henry Allison, eighteen months' imprisonment; Charles Kluver, twelve months' imprisonment; Earl Roberts, three months' imprisonment. The court is now engaged with the trial of Thomas Perry Peddle, charged with assaulting the sheriff in the execution of his duty. The case for the Crown was that Cutten, the sheriff, was executing a warrant to give possession of Peddle's land to a buyer, but Peddle refused to comply with the conditions of sale. While executing this warrant, Cutten was struck by Peddle. Points raised by Mr Baume, K.C., for the defence, that there was no proof of identity of the land or of Cutt?n's appoint- • -mentai sheriff, were overruled by Mr Justice Cooper, but were reserved for the Court of Appeal. NAPIER, June 29. In the charge against Thomas Perry Peddle of assaulting the sheriff in the execution of his duty, the jury brought in a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy on account of the accused being in an excited state, and no t responsible for his actions. Sentence was deferred pending consideration of certain law points which are to be argued before the Court of Appeal. Denis Donovan was, to-day, granted a decree nisi against Marie Elizabeth Donovan on the ground of desertion, an accusation of adultery not being sustained.