Residnet Magistrate's Court.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 230, 6 December 1878, Page 6

Residnet Magistrate's Court.

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|>c. JBALCLUTHA. IjC ' Wednesday, Dec. 4, 1878. l^fßefore Messrs J. G. Smith, «nd John I- * M c Neii;"J*P:'s.-V:--:-;-.:,-: £ Police v. Peukanti Osatti— a charge -wf stealing a silver; watch, valued at L 5, **- the property of F. Rehberg, on the 14th % November last. , „ Sergeant Shirley conducted the prose- £ -<cution, and Mr Bjcid defended. ■. | F. Rehberg, sworn, stated: I was at t the Crown Hotel, Balclutha, on the 14th *^ where I slept. I put the t * ;watch on a table when I went to bed, and i v ifcwa^: missing next morning. The watch * is inline.; Next morning I offered Y~ prisoner L2if he could cause the watch to r" fee returned to my table. Prisoner was f at the Crown Hotel -on 115' th, where lie J "was boots. •: Cross-examined foy the Bench : I had *- drinking on : the 14th and went to "bed about 2 hours before my usual time. I wore the Vtyatch until 2 p.m. on 14th, when it was taken from me by my houser ieeper, who returned it at 6 p.m. Cross-examined by Mr Reid : I slept in No. 7, with Galloway. I lost a pocketbook hegides my watch. I lost aLo note the night before and found it next morning inmy coat pockets. I thought Alf. \ Short had .taken it and wanted to search his pockets, but I found it in my coal; pockets. "I don't know when "it -was taken ftxym "me l>y my housekeeper, but it was to me between 6 :and *I. I wanted to raise some -money on the watch ■on the morning of i3ie 14th. F. S. Canning sworn, stated : Prisoner 'came to me about a fortnight ago and 'showed me a watch -he had bought from Mr Hogg, ' and ' afterwards another one, ~Vfhich. I "believe to "be irlie one produced.. "He wanted to exchange it for a small -watch 1 had and L 2 to boot, but I refused, •and as I had an -account against prisoner K>f 19s 6d ; we agreed -to exchange •and cry •quits. Cross-examined hy Mr Reid : I believe this was the watcn. It -was in my possession about a week. Constable Hughes sworn, stated : On $he 30th isTovember I went to Canning's Hotel and asked him if he had exchanged watches, and read from my pocket-book the number of a watch which was reported to me as having been stolen. I then took possession" of the watch and arrested the accused. «The watch produced is the one 1 got from Canning. This was the case for the prosecution. Mr Reid retired -with the interpreter, -and on returning addressed the Court for the defence, stating ihat prisoner's statement Avas to the effect that he had bought the watch' for 30s from another man, and drew attention to the number of persons about at the time the "watch was stolen, ••everything being upside down almost consequent on the floods. The prisoner was convicted and sentenced to three months' "hard labour in Lawrence gaol. • M'Dougat.l v. Lewis. — Claim of LI 16s Bd, on a judgment summons. Mr D. Reid for plaintiff, Beaton Marr gave evidence that defendant was paid L 9 11s on Tuesday, for done on Government railway line. Defendant examined : I am ; 2l years of ;age, and unmarried. Plaintiff has beeri [bad enough to -supply me with goods. I -have not been^able to pay the amount. I "^received yesterday. An order was made for immediate payand in. default 14 days' imprison---nient with hard labour. Mttnuo v. DaliT and Another — Claim of Ll7 13s6d. Mr R,eid for - plaintiff, and TMr Taylor for defendant. Adjourned for -a week. r . .