MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 554, 8 July 1909, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

, r (Before Mr. W. G. Eiddoll, S.M.) ST. MARk'S BURGLARIES. The bnrglaiy in St Mark's Anglican Churoh , end vicarage formed the substance of tlio charges against Michaol Bronnan, a tall, though, somewhat bent, mtm of about middleage. Tho charges weie;— (1) That, on or nkout June 23, he did break nnd entei the divellinc-hotiso of the Rev. A. M. Johnsen and steal therefrom one greenstone knifo, three sovereigns, and 15s, tho property of the lev. A. M. Johnbon. (2) That, on tho eamo date, ho did break nnd enter a ' place of pnblie worship, t« wit, St, Mark's Anglican Church, fend did eteal therefrom jewellery and money, of a total \alue of £36 A third charge of bieaking and entering the dwelhng-hotise of tho Kov. A. M, Johnson, with intent to commit a orirac, wns withdrawn by leave of Court. Mr. Mtredith appealed, for accused. The Rev. A. M. Johnson, viear of St. Mark's Anglican Charch, said that, on June 23, he retired to bed at the \icaiago at about 10 p m., when, to the best of his knowledge, the houso was locked nn. Next morning, he noticed that tho blind-coid of his stud} windon had been cut Ho knew that the study window was shut tho night beforo, but ho could not say whether it wns locked He missed a greenstone papei-knife, S.S in gold, a sum of monov in silver, and his koye When he noticed that tho keye weie missing, he naturally thought of the cafe in the vestry, and, on examining it, he found that it had been opened, nnd two separate sums of money, totalling .£18) and jewellery, valued at ,£lB, and been stolen; also that two subscnption boxes hnd been" tampered with He recognised tho articles produced as fcomo of thoso stolen. Accused pleaded gmltv.'und was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. , THE HEMINGWAY BEOTHERS. "I , ALONE AM KESPONSIBLE." There was quite a crowd behind the barrier of 'the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning when the chief obargo of the. day, that ot burglary against James Hemingway, was called. Accused, a young man bearing all outward signe of respectability, was, it will be remembered, recently convicted of breaking, entering, and theft from the Parcels Poet Office and Messrs. Whitcombo and Tombs his name was called he walked quietly into tho box, evidently quite &t case The three charges which were, on tho suggestion of Chief-Detective Broberg, heard together were as follow —<1) That he'did, between September 14, and 15, 1907, unlawfully break and enter the premises of Messrs Faudel, Phillip* atd Co,, and ,steal therefrom jewellery and . fancy goods of a total value of £50. (2) That lie did, between November 17 and 18, 1908, unlawfully break and eater the) premises of Messrs. Richard Brown and Son and steal therefrom jewellery and stamps and £10 In ensh of a total value of £60 (3) That he .did, , between January 6 and 7, 1909, break and enter the premises of Mr. Harry Baker, in Mannors Street, and steal therefrom tweeds, suits, etc., of a total value of .£3O. Mr. Wilford appeared for tho defence, ChiefDeteotive Broberg conducting the prosecution. After 'evidence by We. PercV Salmon, manager for Messrs. laudel,' Phillips and Co., of 110 Victoria Street, Wellington, Norman Eiohard Brown, of the firm of Richard Brown and Son, Harry Baker, tailor, carrying on business at 51 Manners Street, and Detective Andrews, accused, when asked if he had anything to eay, lephed: "My statements are true, and my brother had nothing to do with thoso thefts." He pleaded guilty to each charge, and wu committed to the Supieme Court for «entenee.

THE HEMINGWAYS CHAEGED JOINTLY. The next two charges were prefened against the toothers, Jame3 Hemingway nnd John Chalmers Hemingway, conjointly. . The latter, a younger brother, uaa out on bail, and, wheu called upon, walked into the dock, shook hands with his brother, and took his scat beside lim. The charges were as follow-— (1) That, between September U and 13, 1907, they did unlawfully break and enter tho warehouse, of Clifton Hemy Dickerson, and steal therefrom a quantity of tweed, valued at £W. (2) That, between December 9 and 12, 1907, they did break and enter the premises of G W. Bennett nnd Co, and steal therefrom a quantity of photographic-Roods, valued at jSVi 12-. Gd,, the property of Geo Wm 'Bennett!' Mr Wilforn, for accused, objected to the two charges being taken together, so the charge of breaking and. entering Dickerson's warehouse wns dealt with first.

Evidence was given by Clifton Henry Dickereon, woollen merchant, Victoria Street, Wellington; Harry Bakor, tailor j Wra. Frank England, clerk of the Karon Borough Council; and Detective Andrews. . , Mr. Wilford then addressed the Court. In Tregard to James Hemingway, he intended to say nothing. A plea of guilty would be entered by him,,but in regaid to tho charge against the other brother, John Chalmers Hemingwaj, he would draw his Worship's attention to a Statement which had been made by accused James, who had been in custody, and had been afforded' no means of communicating with his brother. Ho had stated. "I alono am responsible for the crimes' I was not aided oi abotted by my brother, and ho had no knowledge at the time I asked him to take charge of the'stolen property, nor have I told him since, that it was obtained dishonestly." The charge was not one of receiving stolen property, and ho would draw his Worship's attention to the ..fact that not ono tittle of evidence had been brought in support ojf it as against the accused John Hemingway When John was arrested in Sydney and when he knew nothing of tho proceedings in Wellington, he protested his innocence, and his explanation was backed up by hib brother. Had he made a statement not in agreement with his brother's, there wonld have been some causo for his committal. A pnma facie case had not been made out, and John Hemingway 6hould therefore bo discharged His Worship said that there was a suspicion against John Hemingway, but taking the whole of tho evidence ho did not think that a jury would find a verdict against accused. He therefore did not feel justified in committing him for trial, but wouul discharge him! Chief-Dotcctive Broborg then l intimated that, as there was no stronger ovidenco in tho second charge against John Hemingway, he would ask lea\o to have it withdrawn. This was granted, and tho charge was heard as against James Heiningwaj alone. , . Evidence was given by Percy Wynn-Wil-liamg, a member of the firm of 0. W. Bennett and Co., indent agents, Dixon Street, and Detective Andrews.

Accused pleaded guilty, andi was .committed to the Supreme Court! for sentence. AN EXPENSIVE THIRST. ' TTnder , tho influence of liquor, Chns. Olson, alias Kuno Koseberg, entered the Palace Hotel N on Tuesday night and asked for one more drink. Bejna refnsed, he becaino 'violent, quickly •cleared tho bar, assaulted Constable Goiv, who 'camo , to remove him, and elided np ,by breaking tho seat of tho cab in which he was -being conveyed to the Police Station. . On ,t'charge of disorderly behaviour he. was fined 205., in default seVon days' imprisonment, on the charge of assaulting the constable, a fino of £3, and costs, Bs., w;as .imposed, , with the alternative of 21 days in'gaol. On the third charge, of damaging tho cab, hoi wns fined 10s., and ordered to pay for tho damage done, 55., in default seven dayt>' imprisonment. . THEFT. Two men, Peter Noilseu and Francis Henry Lawson, were charged with tho theft of a blanket, valuo 95., the property of Edward Ellis. Noilsen was convicted Diid ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, but lawson, an old offender, was sentoncod to 14 ;days' imprisonment. ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES. ' l / A middle-aged man named Brown, alias Jonnnin Andraes Lancaster, k Has remanded to Friday on a charge of obtaining from Wary Jano Bacovitch board and lodging to the valuo of £5 by means of false pretences. OTHER CHARGES. For indeoency in a public place; to wit, Cuba Street, Horace Cramond wns convicted and fined X 5, in default seven dajs' imprisonment. The shooting of a protected bird—a seagullgained for Rutherford Dodds a comiction nnd fino oE 10s. and costs 15a., in default 21 hours" imprisonment., Two offenders for iutobnety were convicted, ono being discharged and tho other fined 10s.