MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1774, 12 June 1913, Page 7

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

SCENE IN A BAR. . CHARGE OF PURSE-SNATCHING. Events in tho bar of tho .Royal Tiger Hotel were investigated at the Magistrate s Court yesterday, .when Walter Tlios. Miles, was,charged with assaulting and robbing Jesse Underwood of tho sum of £2 ss. and a purse valued at 2s. 6d. Mr. W. G. Riddsll, S.M., was on tho bench Inspector Hendrey prosecuted, and Air, P. Jackson appeared for the defence. Jessei Underwood gave cvidenco to the effect that on Juno i he had received a certain letter from a. relative. This letter contained a .£1 note.. The number of the note had been written on. tho letter. .About noon, on the following day he proceeded to the Royal'Tiger-Hotel, in Tab*nftki Street. He tlieu "had in his possosbioiil the £1 note, and about twenty-five or twenty-six shillings. The total sum was m a small purse. Whilst he was in the hotel two men attacked him and threw him to the floor, and when ho regained his feet he found that his purss had gone. Ho identified accused as ono of the men who attacked him. ,

William Headie, boardinghouse-keepor, gave evidence to the effect that whilst he was in tho bottle department of the hotel ho looked through a small opening in the wall, and clearly saw a hand take Underwood s purse. Albert Saunders, labourer, stated that Underwood was intoxicated. He was, however, certain that it was tho accused who took the purso. He, however, modified that statement in cross-examination. Evidence was also given by the barman, by Margaret M'lntosh (licensee of tho lioyal Tiger), and by Sergeant-Detective Cassells. The accused pleaded not gniltv, and -was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in the suim of .£SO, with one surety of .£SO.

"ONLY IN SELF-DEFENCE." A charge of assaulting George Mart was preferred against a one-armed man named David Michael Leckie. The accused, who was represented by Mr. H. F. O'Leary, pleaded not guilty. Evidence. was given to the effect that Leckio had put his hand into Mart's pocket and removed a two shilling piece Mart promptly took it from him, and . then accused struck him. The incident took place at the rear of the New Zealander Hotel on the night of June 7. The accused Leckie denied the allegations, and stated that he had only acted in self-defence. His Worship fined Leckie 205,, with Bs. costs, in .default threo days' . ment. INSOBRIETY. Two first offenders were charged with insobriety. Olio 'was convicted and discharged, and the other was fined ss.