RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Volume 641, Issue 641, 31 July 1874, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, CROMWELL.

Thurday, July 24. (Before W. L. Simpson, Esq., R.M.) Drunkenness.— Oue inebriate. John Fulton, was fined 10s. ; in default, twentyfour hours’ imprisonment, with hard labor. The line was paid. Robbery from tho Mail 'Bag.— Joseph M‘Cairo, late mail carrier between Nevis and Cromwell, was charged with stealing a lottn - from Her Majesty’s bag, contrary to the Post-office Act, ISSS. Mr Cowan appeared for the accused, and pleaded “ not guilty.” Mr. Sub-Inspector Moore conducted tbo prosecution. Tho first witness called was Robert Kidd, of the Cromwell Hotel, who deposed that, on the 12th of May last, the accused was in his employ as mail carrier. John Jackson, hotelkeeper at Garricktown, deposed that, on the 10th of May last, lie addressed a letter to one Jacob Thomson, AVinton Bush, Southland, covering a letter directed to him from tho Dead Letter-office, Wellington, and on tho 12th of May he handed it to his servant, Mary Gava’iagh, to be posted at Angell’s Hotel

(post-office). Mary Cavauagli swore that she received a letter from tho previous witness on tho 12th of May, and took it to Angcll’s about mid-day, being the hour when the mailtoy usually arrived. Mr Augcll was at dinner, and she called him to the bar. Ho told her the mailbags were closed, but be would put it in. Did not notice what he did with tho letter.

Charles Angell, Carrick-town, deposed that ho was an hotelkeeper and post-mas-ter. There was no rcedving-hox. lie put all letters for the 'post on a shelf behind the har, which was accessible tn any stranger entering the house. The Government had not supplied him with any stamp for letters nor sealing-wax. Could not remember the 12th of May last particularly, nor any special conversation with last witness, nor having received the letter pro Inced from her, and could not identify it. Had frequently given local letters to the mail-hoy to ca r ry to Cromwell. Any one coul 1 open the mail bag w'ibout its being detected by the post-master at Cromwell, as the seal on the bag was of a very ordinary nature, owing to the absence of a stamp. All the letters put into the mailhag were entered on the way-bill, and had one been deficient be would have heard of it in duo course from the post-master at Cromwell.

■Sergeant Cassells deposed that he arrested the accused at Cromwell, and after much search, found the letter produced under the mattrass in his bod room.

This closed the prosecution, and Mr Cowan briefly addressed the Tench, contending that there was no legal proof that the letter had ever been put into the bag, or that the accused had opened the bag. lie asked for his discharge.

His Woiship concurred, and dismissed the charge ! but directed the police to roarrest tbc accuse 1 on Hie charge of stealing a private letter, the property of John Jackson. After consulting with his solicitor, the accused pleaded guilty, and it was arranged that the evidence given on the former charge should he accepted as the evidence in this one. olr Cowan appealed to the bench, pointin ; out that Lis client had already undergone one month’s imprisonment for a similar tlfcnee, and that, as the present charge formed, to a great extent, part and parcel of that for which ho had already suffered, he hoped the Court would take a lenient view. Ho would refer to the good conduct of the lad (ns represented by Inspector Moore) during his incarceration. The Bench admonished the prisoner in severe and appropriate terms, and added that that I Bis was a very serious offence ; in Hie interests of society and the public, at large, the Bench would not bo doing its duty were it not to mark its disapprobation of such conduct. Prisoner was then sentenced to one month's imprisonment in Clyde Gaol, with hard labor. .Licensing Act. —John Marsh (for the the School Committee) app'ied fur leave to keep open the school house that evening, for the purposes of a ball in aid of the funds. Application granted. Obstructing Police.—Robert E. Dagg of the Clutha Hotel, was charged with obstructing the po'ico in the execution of their div : y, by standing in front of them. Mr Cowan appeared for the defendant,

ami pleaded “not guilty.” After hearing the evidence, the Bench dismissed the charge, observing that the obstruction was not sufficiently sUong to come within the moaning of the Act. Kidd v. A’■ vos. Claim for 44/. for goods and materials supplied at defendant's rcflucst. Mr Cowan for plaintiff, and Mr Wilson for defendant. After heaving a

number of witnesses, judgment was given for plaintiff for til/. 7s. 2d. ; 30s. costs of Court; and two guineas prof os-

lonal fees. Bussell v. Watson.—Claim for 30?., for

goods supplied. Mr Cowan appeared for plaintiff, and intimated that the case had boon settled out of Court.

There were one or two Warden’s cases disposed of and the Court then adjourned.