POLICE COURT.—MONDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 264, 14 November 1870, Page 2

POLICE COURT.—MONDAY.

[Before J. Naughton and J. Newman, Esqs., Justices.]

Drunkenness.— D. Miles way fined ss. and ccsts, or to be imprisoned 2-1 hours with hard labour.

Assault and Robbeby.—Charles Harris on remand was charged with having assaulted W. Chambers at the Waikomiti Hotel on the 7th November, and robbe I him of £31. Mr. Joy for prisoner.—W. Chambers deposed : I am a labourer in the employment of J. McLeod, On the 7th inst. I went to the hotel for a parcel. I had a glass of beer, and received the parcel. On going outside, and when fixing the parcel to the saddle, I stooped down, and whilst bent, the prisoner came behind and struck me a violent blow on the back. Harris was standing close beside me ; whilst he struck me I felt him take my pocket book out of 1113' pocket. There were 31 £t notes, viz., four fives, and eleven ones I immediately said " You have that." He said " What ? " And I said " You have mj money and my pocket-book." He replied 'Have you seen me shifting from here?" He told me to search him, and wanted to fight. Others came forward and said "he was ah honest man. The hotel keeper then came out, and I told him. I went back to Henderson's Mill to see John McLeod, from whom I had received the money, to find if ho knew the number of the notes. Harris was the only one near me when I was struck*. The others were all inside the hotel at the time. The prisoner had been in the hotelat the time I had the glass of beer. It waPon October 31 when I received the £31 from Mr. McLeod. At the time of the roboery I V-jjs. quite sober, having had but the one glass of beer.—To the Bench: I had not pulled out the pocket-book while in the bar, nor said anything about the money. Had not quarrelled with the men in the bar. I will swear positively that I had-my pocket-book immediately before receiving the blow. On finding a hand in ray pocket I felt for my money, and it was gone. The pocket-book produced by Mr. Pottleton is the- one taken from me, and thencontaining the money. I don't know where it was lost.— Cross-examined by Mr. Joy : I did not like the appearance of the people iv the publichouse, and on going out I felt my pocket on tli6 outside, and I felt that I had my pocketbook. By his request I felt his trousers pockets, and did not find the book. I did not search his coat. I swear positively that prisoner struck me. He acknowledged it, himself.—To Mr. Brohain: The end of the pocket-book might have appeared projecting from my pocket when in the bar.—James Pottleton, proprietor of the hotel, deposed generally in corroboration of previous evidence. He stated that on coming out prosecutor stated that he was "almost confident' that prisoner had robbed him. He stated subsequently that he had not pressed the charge for feftr of being struck.—To the Bench : From the number of people there, I thought it'would have been unwise and useless to attempt a search. I saw my little girl pick up this pocket-book, at tho closet, about two days after. There was no money in it. Where it was found, it could have remained two daja

unseen. —Cross-examined by Mr. Joy: John McLeod deposed that-, he was a farmer, at Henderson's Mill. That prosecutor was in his service, and that on 31st October he had paid Mm £33 55., for wages. He came to him on the evening of ihe alleged robbery, enquiring as to the number of the notes. - This concluded the case for the prosecution.—-Mr. Joy reserved his defence.—The prisoner was committed for trial.