RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1057, 23 January 1884, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

ASHBURTON. -To-day.

(Before H. 0. S. Baddeley Esq, R.M.) Larceny —Hugh Weir ]and John Daria, alias Pat the Thief, were brought up charged with the larceny of L2 from the person of Albert Bingling. The prisoner pleaded not guilty, and the following evidence was taken :—Albert Rinigling, a laborer, deposed that he slept at the Somerset on Monday last. He heard two men in an adjoining room talking about getting money, and planning to rob the witness should be allowed to fall into his first sleep, and the latter determined to keep awake. Sleep, however, overcame him, and on his awaking he found his candle alight and the two prisoners in hie room. Had felt water being poured down his back, for the purpose, he presumed, of causing him to turn over, and We r afterwards fumbled in his (witness’s) pocket. When witness woke the prisoner Davis was unlacing Ringling’s boots a id Weir “ shied ” out of the room. Missed the money in the morning, and found one shilling in the pocket where he had two one pound notes and a quantity of loose silver on the previous night.—The barman of the Somerset Hotel, sworn, gave evidence that he saw Ringling take his money out in the presence of Weir in the bar on Monday. Weir spent half-a-crown on that day, changing a Half-sove-reign with witness, and remarking that “ that was the last of the family plate.” Davis did not spend any money in the bar on Monday. Witness understood that he had none.—Mr Hill, licensee of the hotel, said that the prisoner Davis asked for a bed, but said he had no money. Witness told him that ho could have a shakedown if he had his blankets with him. Subsequently Davis was accommodated with a bed, as witness did not like to turn him out on such a bad night. As to the prisoner Weir, Mr Hill only know that he had come from Dunedin recently, and had been promised employment in the Somerset Hotel, but it was found that he was given to drinking, and witness had arranged to pay his fare to Christchurch. Had not given Weir any money, but knew that the latter had borrowed some. —Constable Smart deposed to arresting the prisoner Weir yesterday in the Somerset Hotel, and found the sum of 23a on him. Subsequently arrested Davis in the Central Hotel, and on se rolling him discovered 13a 6d in his pockets.Neither of the prisoners made any statement regarding the chaige. After recalling the prosecutor and questioning him as to the money he had in his possession on Monday, night, his Worship said he-had no doubt from the evidence that the prisoners had committed the robbery, and he would sentence them to six months’ imprisonment with hard labor. Drunkenness. —Catherine Driscoll, tor being drunk in a public placa, was ordgred to pay 20s or go to gaol for fortyeight hours. This was her first appearance in Ashburton, but several convictions had been recorded ogainst her i.i other places