RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, CLYDE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 619, 27 February 1874, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, CLYDE.

—o— Wednesday, Feb. 25.

(BoforeJW. L. Simpson Esq., R.M.)

Richard Todd was charged with hav'in g during the month of fanuarv last stolen gold from the tail race, the joint property of James Hill and William C. Holmes, miners, Tinker’s Gully, James’Hill deposed—Lam a miner residing at Tinkers, the accused has ’ b cen .working during the past five or six weeks iu a mining claim jointly held by William C. Holmes and myself. On January 25, Holmes came to me and said, prisoner had confessed to. him ’of stolen gold from our tail race. 1 gave information to the police. Thomas Smithson, settler, Dunedin Road deposed—l was. at Tinker’s Gully in January last, when'! saw prisoner for the first time, we were iu.Mellor’a store, prisoner asked me to come up'to his ten t and have a quiet drink. On the way there he asked me to sell a parcel of gold for him. lat first refused, but eventually I took the gold to Mr. Mellor’s, New Town Store, and obtained 71. Is. Cd. (for it. 1 banded the prisoner the’money and the gold receipt, and ho gave" me pi/., saying that would pay me for my trouble. I parted with him; and went to another sto re where I met a man nomed Joe, to whom I told the circumstance. 1 said that I did not flunk he came honestly by the gold . " John Mellor deposed—l remember the lad witness coming into my store about 4ho ?sth January last and selling a pa reel of gold, he was in company with prisoner just before and after. 1 have known prisoner for a long time, ho he has always been working for wages.

John Mellor of the Ballarat Store depos'd -1 know the prisoner, on the 24th of January ho sold me a parcel of gold al-.0, in December last. On both occasions I deducted the money accused was in - debted to me, and paid ci-h for balance. 1 havo known prisoner for a long time as a wages man. and have never known him to have a claim of Lis own.

W. (J. Holmes deposed—Prisoner has been in my employment seven or‘ eight months. I always paid him his wages, never with gold dust. From information 1 leceived from Joe, the man referred to by Thomas Smithson, I had a conversation with prisoner, and accused him of stealing gold, he admitted it. I had suspected prisoner before, and have seen him prosp eting in the tail race, which he had no right to do.

Thomas M‘Gann the aiestlng constable , also gave evidence, when the prisoner was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme’Court'for the trial of icrimi nal cases at Dunedin.

George Crosby alias Martin o‘Halloran, alias Wallace, alias Wilson, was charged with stealing seven shillings from the till of W. B. Martin, of Alexandra.

William Bishop Martin, watchmaker, deposed—On the morning of Thursday the 19th instant, about 9 o’clock, hearing a noise, I went into my shop and saw prisoner behind the counter with the till open, and a shilling in his hand. When I spoke to him, he put the shilling into his pocket. 1 caught him in the act of taking his hand out of the till. I called in Mr. M‘Donald, and then went for the constable. 1 saw prisoner searched, and seven shillings taken from his vest pocket. On the evening of the ISth there was about 2 1, in the till, after I found prisoner at the till there was only 9s. Od.'Teft. Christina MTvor, servant residing at ths Criterion Hotel, Alexandra, deposed— About 8, a m. on the morning of the 19th prisoner asked her for a drink, I refused, as he had no money, bo turned his pockets inside out to shew me he had no money. Seriroant Mortop ami Pierrepoint were examined. A. T. Thomson, deposed : I am a duly qualified medical practitioner. On the 9th instant was called upon by the police to see prisoner. He was suffering from drink. Pi escribed for lnm,,jjad saw him again the next day. I am of opinion that he w;.a aa angering. Committed for trial. Thursday, Feb. 16. Hastie v Patterson.—Claim 1L Judy*

ment by default for amount claimed and 225. costai