RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 495, 7 November 1881, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

ASHBURTON— To-Dat,

(Before Mr J. N. Wood, R.M.) Deunknness. Two inebrates were fined 6s each or twenty-four hours imprisonment. Larceny op a Watch and Chain.— Matthew Kean was charged with the larceny of a watch, chain, and locket, of the value of sixteen guineas, and a “ Novelty ” consultation book of tickets, the property of Archibald Macintyre. Sergt Pelton conducted the prosecution. —Archibald Macintyre, the prosecutor, stated that he was a wool sorter by trade, temporarily residing in Ashburton. He came into town on Saturday last and stopped at Mrs Mutch’s boarding-house, Burnett street. The watch chain and locket produced were his property. He retired to bed at ten minutes to 11 p.m. on Saturday. Placed the watch and chain under his pillow on getting into bed. The consultation tickets were in his coat

pocket. The coat was hung up against the wall. Missed the property about 8 o’clock • yesterday morning on awaking. Never aaw accusSfl before. Witness’ bedroom

door was left open. Did not see the "property again until it was in Constrble Hick’s . possession last night. There were other boarders at Mrs- Mutch’s besides witness. Jessie Mutch deposed to r keeping a boardinghouse in Iprnett street. Macintyre stopped at house on Saturday night, and also theltccused, who had tea, and then asked A a bed. Both the room occupied by Maclntyre and that occupied by the accused were upstairs and off the same passage. Accused left the house about six o’clock yesterday morning,—By the Bench : Macintyre went to bed and twelve o’clock. Ho was that time to say exactly sober. —CTfstable Hicks said that from information he received he went in search of the accused last night. Arrested him on this charge at the Somerset Hotel at eleven o’clock. After witness made the : arrest, accused asked to go- out to the Closet, which he was allowed to do. Witness followed, and saw accused take something from his pocket, he could not/ say what, bat accused dropped it on f tbe floor of the closet, and it was picked up broken by J. Main, The consultation tickets- witness found in accused’s right band trousers’ pocket. Took him to the boarding-house, where Macintyre identified the watch and chain as his property. —J. Mair having deposed to picking up the watch, the accused, who had nothing to say, was formally committed to take bis trial for the offence at the next sitting of the Supreme Court held in Christchurch.—Sergeant Felton asked leave to withdraw a furthet' charge against the accused of the larceny from a dwelling of L2l2s6d. The Court then rose.