THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 622, 9 January 1872, Page 2

THIS DAY.

STEALING FEOM A CTJTTEB

William King, sailor, 29, was indicted for having, on the 16th September last, stolen 500 lbs of flour, 1 lb butter, 1 lb candles, and one clock, tho property of Frederick Oliver, from the cutter Gleaner.

Prisoner applied to have his trial postponed until next sessions, as he had not been furnished with copies of the depositions;

The Crown Prosecutor stated that prisoner had been supplied with all requisite information; and His Honor said that he could see no reason for putting off the case. It must, therefore, be proceeded with.

Frederick Oliver, master of the Gleaner, deposed that on the 16th September the cutter was lying off the end of the firewood wharf. The cargo consisted principally of flour. [Witness was here severely rebuked by His Honor for not making himself audible. His Honor remarked that it was a singular thing that the master of a vessel could not make himself heard all over the Court. If he would not speak up, His Honor would disallow the whole of his expenses.] There were other articles on board as ship's stores; and when witness lext at 6 p.m. all was safe. On returning between 9 and 10, he found one of the hatches stove in, and the

articles enumerated in the indictment weremissing. Witness could not positively identify the clock produced ds that which had been stolen ; he had not seen prisoner near the vessel at the time the things were lost. John Sullivan, owner of the cutter, swore positively to the clock produced as being his property. Detective Jeffery deposed that he had obtained the clock from the house of a man named Goodwin. On charging prisoner with stealing the missing articles, he at first denied all knowledge of the affair; but he afterwards put some questions regarding the clock, and taxed witness with trying to keep him in gaol all his Louisa Smith recognised the clock as having been brought to her house by prisoner; he said he had bought it from a man for ss. She afterwards removed it to the house of a person named Goodwin, by direction of prisoner. After a retirement of about half-an-hour, the jury found prisoner guilty. Sentence was deferred in order to afford him an opportunity of obtaining evidence as to character.

UNLAWFULLY WOUNDING-. James Saunders Gibbons was arraigned for having on 30th October inflicted certain grievous injuries on the body of one Munu Hori Grey. Prisoner pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr. Cooper. This was a case arising out of the warfare between Mr. Craig, and Mohi Maugakahia in regard to the removal of timber at Whangapoua. Munu Hori Grey, being examined through the medium of an interpreter, deposed that on the 30th October he was working at Mr. Harris' raft at Whangapoua. He was taking it from the Waitikuri to Harris' saw-mill. There were in all 21 on the raft, both Maori and European. On approaching the mill, Gibbon's raft was also being "poled down the river towards Craig's mill. Gibbons was in a boat towing the raft. All the boats of Gibbons' party rowed towards the raft on which witness was, with the intention of taking possession of it. Mr Harris called to them to go back, but they would not. A dispute ensued and Gibbons' boat pushed off four times, but the rowers kept pulling it towards the raft. When witness was in the act of pushing the boat off, Gibbons struck him below the shoulder blade with the iron-shod end of his pole inflicting a severe wound.