POLICE COURT.—This Day.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1193, 19 November 1873, Page 2

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before P. A. Phi^'ps, Esq., 11.M.) DIMWKENNKSS.

Michad Garrett was charged with this offence, and fined 20s and costs, or 4S hoursin " durance v -le."

LARCENY

Peter Finne i>nd Thomas Mulvany were again brought up, charged with stealing a watch, value L 5, the property of Thomas Nerrimoro, of Chapel-street, Auckland, on the ltith of November. Mulvany was also charged with stealing a shirt and three pieces of print, on the 13th inst, value 7s, the property of Mary Collins, of Chancery-street.

Serjeant-major Pardy conducted the case

Thomas Nerremoro, a tailor, of Chapelstreet, deposed that he was known as the "Snip," and that on Sunday afternoon he was in his " cups," and roMcd into Finne's house. He was'druik at the time, rud could not see whether Mulvrny was present or not. He had in the early oart of the day a silver wa* oh and steel chain in his possession. He had a hazy recollection of be;ng roused by some body, but could not say whether it was Sergeant Connor, the place was so misty. He felt for bis watch and found that it had passed in Lome mysterious way from his possesion. The cha'n was lying on the floor. His watch wa-,a good one, numbered 15,174. He hr lin his waistcoat pocket half-a-sovereign and two or three half-crowns which bad also parsed away. His watch was worth £(!. He had on previous occasions drank with Peter Finne, but he was hot a clone acquaintance. He had nover drank tea with Mr and Mrs Finne.

Sergeant Coruor deposed to seeing the prisoners together in Qucen-stroet, about about half-past three o'clock on Sunday afternoon. He spoke to them ; they had evidently been drinking. He' told them to clear oil", or he would lock them up. They immediately made off at a biisk pace. He suspected something vromj. and followed them. They went to Finne's residence, where he subsequently caHed. He saw lying on the floor in an unconscious state, the tailor, Neriemore. He shook him, and after a struggle of five mmutes, the tailor opened his eyes. He then asked him if he had a watch about him. He said he had • and after some time exclaimed, " By the powers, my silver f ticker's gone to Cathenne's." fie arrested the prisoners, when Mulvany admitted that he had sold the watch and divided the money with Peter. Mulvany bolted into a neighbour's house. .He searched them at the station and found the money upon them.

Catherine Townsend deposed that she kept a [store in Chaucery-lane, and did a little business on Sundays in the general way for the accommodation of her honest neighbours. Prisoners called upon her on Sunday afcernoon with the watch for which they wanted a pound, but she concluded the bargain by handing them five shillings, which they divided. She bad bought things of old Peter before that trans action.

To his Worship : She handed the watch over to the police. She sold a few things on Sundays, not out of any disregard of the Sabbath, but for the accomodation of her neighbours.

Constable Kincella said that Finne, when m the cell, had confessed to him, in great terror, that he had gold in his stomach, and that he feared that it would never digest, he h-id swallowed a half-sovereign. He had put it into his mouth for safety and it had slipped down his throat, r Peter Finne wished to explain". 'He said the half-sovereign was a police trick .played upon him • he was making up his bed in the cell, and upon shaking the blanket oat bounded the golden coin upon the floor. He whipped it into his mouth, and it ran down his throat. It was a trick upon him. With regard to .the w.atch, he knew nothing about ti- He had been drunk for a fortnight. Thomas Mulvany also laid his share in the felony to the same cause. His Worship commented severely upon their course of life, which revealed a melancholy state of things, and especially so when associated with the Sabbath day. Prisoners said they were very sorry, and would not do so any more: His Worship remarked that this was the

twenty-third time that Finne had made this ! promise. His woi'd was not to be taken, and a short term of imprisonment was of \ little use to him. His Worship sentenced j Finne to one year's imprisonment, and Mul- j vany to three months with hard labour in the common gaol of Auckland. j This was all the business. j