MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1148, 8 June 1911, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr. W. G. EicWcll, S.M.) ALLEGED THEFT, EI.XG HISSED FROM A DWELLING. A young man, named Arthur Frederick Charles Davis, said to be a poiter at the Wavorley Hotel, was charged with that, on April 13 last, he stole a diamond ring, valued at ,£l3, and 18?. in money, from the nf Margaret Hume. Chief Detective Broberg prosecuted, and .Mr. 11. F. O'Leary appeared for accused. Margaret Hume, married woman, residing ill Knigge Avenue, knew accused, who was a married man residing at her sister's house in Knigge Avenue. On April 18 she had placed the ring on a table in her bedroom, and, a little before 8 o'clock on the .same evening, she had left a bag containing ,£3 9s. Gd. on n table .in the kitchen. . She then went to her sister's, next door, and was talking outsido the front door for about fifteen minutes. During that time 110 one could have entered her house from the street without being seen. Aboitt a quarter-past 3 o'clock she sent her niece into the kitchen, and. in consequence of what the latter told her then, witness asked a Mr. Evans and a Mr. M'Gill to go into her house. A search disclosed no one, but she found that her ring and 18s. were missing. Accused came into the house while Mr. Evans and Mr. M'Gill wero there. To Mr. O'Leary: When her niece came out of the liotise, she told witnpss there was a man going out of it (meaning out of the back door). Agnes Blytheman, married woman, and sister of the last witness, stated that accused resided at her house. About 8.15 p.m. on April 13 she was sitting in her kitchen when accussd entered by the buck door. About a minute later, her sister called but for Mr. Evans. 'Witness then proceeded to her sister's house, and, later, saw accused there. He heard the conversation about the ring being missing. Subsequently accused asked witness seven or eight times if lier sister had recovered the ring. A ■ week before the ring was brought back accused mentioned to witness that the detectives had asked him if he knew anvthing about the ring. Eileen Blytheman, 13 years of age, daughter of "the previous witness, recounted that. on the evening of April 13, she was assisting her annt, Mrs. Hume. Witnoss tt'as ironing in the kitchen, when she heard a iioise behind her. She looked round, and just caught a glimpse of a tall man in grey clothes, making a hurried exit bv way of the back door. She rushed out of the house, and informed her aunt. ■ ■ To Mr. O'Leary: 'Witness knew accused well, and would" recognise him any time she saw him. When she saw the man leaving the back door she did not get a glimpse of him sufficiently to recognise him, or even to see it' ho wero anything like accused. Bertric Evans, who resides with Mrs. Blvthoman, also gave evidence. ■_ Detective Masoii deposed to interviewins accused on May 25 in company with Detective Cassells. Accused denied all knowledge of the ring. On June 2, the detectives again interviewed him, shoved him the ring, and read him -a statement made by his wife, in which she admitted that accused had given her the ring, lie then admitted giving his wife the ring, and mado a statement in which ho related that he had found the ring inside of Mrs. Hume's fence, and that he gave it to his wife to give to Mrs. Hume, being- afraid to give it to the detectives lest he should be suspected. Subsequently the detectives arrested him, and charged him with the offence. Corroborative evidence was given by Detective Cassells. On' being formally charged, accused reserved his defence., and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. CARGO BROACHING. Patrick Connolly and William Catfermole, appearing on remand, wero jointly arraigned on two charges of cargo broaching on the steamer Drayton Grange. The articles were brass taps, of a total value of £6 Is. Gd., some of them the property of the New Zealand and African Steamship Company, and the remainder the property of Levin and Co. Chief-Detec-tive Broberg prosecuted. When the evidence for the prosecution had been tendered, both accused pleaded guilty, and were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. ATTEMPTED THEFT. I A young man. named Alexander Telfer, pleaded guilty to a charge of having attempted to steal a purse and contents, valued at £2 155., the property of E. M. Quinlan. It appeared from the evidence that the purse had been picked up in the street and left in a shop until the owner could be. discovered. Accused had posed as the owner, and had endeavoured to obtain it. but had not succeeded, as he was unable to give a description. Ho was fined 405., in default fourteen days' imprisonment. A STOLEN OVERCOAT. William O'Brien, who had pleaded guilty last week to a charge of stealing an overcoat, valued at 165., the property of Fanny Whittalcer, was brought up for sentence. On the application of Sub-In-spector Sheehah, he was further remanded until Monday next. 'A SHIP'S DESERTER. Francis Page, who had been a duly articled seaman on the New Zealand Shipping' Company's steamer Otaki, pleaded guilty to a-charge of having deserted from that ship on December 29 last.. rie was sentenced' to one month's imprisonment. Mr. H. E. Evans appeared for the New Zealand Shipping Company. OTHER CASES. Jean Munro, alias Romanson, admitted entering licensed ■ premises on two occasions during the currency of a prohibition order in force ' against her. She also pleaded guilty to a cliargc of being an idle and disorderly person with insufficient lawful means of support. As she cxpresed her willingness to enter the Salvation Army Home; she was ordered to remain there for six months, failing which she will -be brought up for sentence on the three charges. Roland John 'Ranger was charged with stealing, on or about March. 21, a doublebarrelled gun, valued at .£3, the property of Walter Smart. Mr. H. ■ F„ O.Leary, who.appeared for accused, applied tor a remand until Mondav next this was granted, bail being fixed'at .£2O aue one surety of £20. Edwin Bailey, .charged - vrfth drunkenness. w-as fined 10s., in default IS hours' imprisonment. .