MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 96, 17 January 1921, Page 7

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

THREE MONTHS FOR THEFT. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., presided at the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning, and dealt with the police cases. Patrick O’Callaghan, alias Stewart, was charged that on April 30, at Ngaio, he sole a pea rifle valued at £3 155., the property of some person unknown. He was also charged that on July 14, at Ohau Beachj he stole two suits of clothes, a telescope, pea rifle, watch, two jxiirs of boots, and other articles, of the value of £26, the property of Samuel H. Ramsbottom. On the application of ChiefDetective "Ward he was remanded to January 21. John Millar, for whom Mr. J. O’Donovan appeared, was charged that on January 8 he stole a trunk and contents, one suit of clothes, four shirts, six collars, and 12 handkerchiefs, of the total value of £l9, the property of Henry Hollingworth. Hollingworth said that on January 8 he gave his bag to a carrier at the railwav station to be taken to the Columbia Hotel, Cuba Street. When witness went to the hotel at 16 p.m. he'could not find hi 9 bag, and he had not seen it until he was called iu to identify the bag and contents by the police. Charles Chamberlain, carrier, said that on January 8 he received a bag from the last witness to take to the Columbia Hotel. He took the bag there and left it in the passage near the office. Constable Hunt said ho searched the accused's room and found the bag and contents. Asked for an explanation, he said that 'he was requested by a man, whom he did not know, but who gave the name of Watson, to bold the bag. He held it, and waited for some time, and afterwards took the bag to his boardinghouse, where it had remained until the constable camo in and took possession of it. The accused, in giving evidence, said lie was a barman, and repeated the statement that he had made to the constable. There was nothing on the bag to giveta clue as to the owner. TH? Magistrate said ho was satisfied that the man was guilty, and sentenced him Io three months’ imprisonment.