THEFT OF A WATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 39, 15 February 1905, Page 3

THEFT OF A WATCH.

A BARE-FACED AFFAIR. George Mack, a powerfully-built man, who was found not guilty in the Supreme Court last ■week upon & cliarge of -robbery with violence, was convicted this morning by Mr S. E. McCarthy of the impudent robbery of a watch on Saturday lastThe prosecution was conducted by Chief-Detective Marsaek, who called Charles Hastie, the owner of the watch. His evidence was that while he and the accused were in the Star Hotel he offered the watch for sale. Mack looked at it, and asked for the loan of it. He walked straight out of the hotel with the watch, and when witness followed and asked him for it. he received a punch in the jaw from Mack. The watch was worth a sovereign. William John" Hamilton, a labourer, said he knew Mack took the watch, but was not sure whether he struck Hastie. The accused's version of the affair, on oath, was that he was offered the watch for a sovereign, and as he had no money to buy it he gave Hastie the watch back. Then he left the hotel, and some time afterwards he saw the prosecutor looking at a group of men in which he was standing, and remarking. "I'll find him." Hastie was fighting with another man outside the hotel while witness went away, and he (accused) could name the thief if he saw him. "Bare-faced lies" was the accused's comment upon the evidence for the prosecution. Mr McCarthy convicted Mack, and sentenced him to three months' imprisonment- As Mack left the dock he asked: •'After I've served the three months, and if I bring this man to justice, can I get anything for it?" The magistrate replied that he was not on the Bench to advise him.