RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT CLYDE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 932, 27 February 1880, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT CLYDE.

(Before Major Keldell, K.M. .ami Warden.) February 21. Edward Featherstone and Jams Murphy (on remand) were charged with bavins' o i the night of the 10th instant, on Ual I Hill Flat, stuck up and robbed a man, named John Newton, of a purse containing L3O in Bank-notes and sundry papers John Newton, sworn, deposed :—I am a miner, and u resident of the Nevis. 1 left the Nevis on the 9th instant, and arrived at 'he Manuherikia the same day, where I stayed the same night. [ was on my way down to Dunedin, and I proceeded on the following day on my journey, and reached Bald Hill Fiat (Oliver’s Hotel) at about 9 o'clock p.m. 1 remained there about two hours. Mrs Oliver was in the bar when 1 arrived. In about half an hour the accused (Featherstone came to the bar. au I remained for about thirty minutes. I and the accused (Featherstone) drank together several times, I calling for the drinks. I pd I for some drinks with silver when I li st arrived, and afterwards tendered Mi* O.iver a L 5 note, to take therefrom «hj it I owed her, and she having no change I put it back from where I took it, which was

® from a pocket-book in the right-hand pocket s of my trowaers. The accused (Feat Iters tone) t was standing by me at the time on the same side, and could R“e what 1 was doing. 1 The pocket honk contained LBO (two ten - and two five-pound notes) and sundry pa- . pars. I left the hotel between 11 amt 12, j the accused (Fe .therstone) left before me.. 1 was on horseback and intended to reach the TVviot that night. I had not proceedf ed above three nr four hundred yards from e ho hotel, the night was v -ry dark, and on B a suden I felt my left arm graape I, and was p irtly dra ged out of the saddle, at the 3 same time I felt a hand pass into my right - ban 1 tr-iwsers pocket wh -re my money was 1 On th- hand being withdrawn, I heard a J man's voice say—Let. tbo b- - y fool go. I put my hand in my pocket and missed my pocket-book. I immediately rode back to * Alexandra and gave information to the poi lice By the Bench.—l had been drinking, j. but sober enough to proceed on my journey. L saw no other man but the accused (Featherston.) in the bar of the hotel when 1 t was th- re • 9: o-s examined by p-ijonor Featherstnue -I believe it was you that who t .ok the purse fram my pocket, and who sang out to let mega' 1 a n e«r r aiit I did not take the f money out of my pocket when I was stops pe lmi the road. The men did not ask me for my money, 1 there was no conversation between us. Thi Magistrate here remaiked to the r Tinsoner that though he had the right of 5 or -ss examining witnesses he need not while doing so criminate hi us-df. Prisoner ro the Bench.—There were three of its your Worship i Cross examination continued.—! did not , siy I was a poor cripple, ami I will give you bilf. Mary Oliver, landlaly of the hotel, fully t corroborated the evidence of the previous . witness, adding, that she could not indue.! 1 Newton to stay in the hotel that night, ami make an early start in the m li ning. iviicha-l Hastings, gaoler at Clyde, depose I. Piisonors were given into mv eus todv on the 12 hj instant. On the I-Ith, I hid priso i-r FeVherstnne in the gaol yard for exercise ; he aske 1 me how I thought thec.se would go, 1 replied that it all <lenends noon the evide .ee brought against i vou Prisoner th -n said, I wish to make a ftitemont.Twi ltelly.il all about it. I 'hen cautioned him, and he said ; “We did sick in. the man.” 1 took his statement down in writing. At a la'er period of the day, prisoner sai 1, I never saw but one 1 10 ami two f,5 notes, an i if there is , I one f,I o note missing, Murphy must have I i- in his swag ; T saw him sewing Ids o,.at . j the ni.lit. after the robbery The pis .tiers | i were c -nfine I in separate cell--, and hj id no I I op mriunirv .f conimuidc.ting with each j other. On Monday the 10 hj, Murphy said ' he would tell me all about it. I said if he I wi-he.l to make a stat-ment. 1 would in- | form Mr Ins-eo’or O’Donnell, j Char'es O, Dmm-ll Suh-Ins.>et,or of Po- I li.-e, sworn, sai 1 ; Outlie 11th instant I rcc ived information of a highway .obhery at Bail Hid Flat. Aft-r enquiries male, I pro tired a warrant, f.r the apprehension of nrisoners Tu company with Constable M ‘I cod 1 arrested them ns th-y were working harvesting on Mr Butler’s farm. Bald Hid Fat. On hearing the warrant real, F .athe-ston- sii 1— •* 1 certainly had some ‘•rinks wi hj the man at the hotel.” Murphvsa- 1. I can show you a man who saw in.-in the l-.ft where 1 s'opt till half past ten. Feathers'one awoke me when he came home a f w minn'es past eleven o’eloek. Prisoners were, then e-mveved to Clyde Gaol On Saturday the 14'h the gaol r handed m» p-’a >ivr F-.Plierst m -’s written staVincnt; on the consents o f that, mi the 15 hj. together with Constable M‘Leo 1. I (irn.-ee’e 1 to Butler’s farm, and searched prisoner Feadm-.-s-nne’s swag, and in the lining of the ski-t of one of the coats was found one 1,10 note, and two L.n notes, which were mod earefulh- stitched between the linen and thee'oth The same evening I searched prisoner Murphy’s cat in tdie Clyde gaol, and fotf'd reare'e 1 in the s'eeve a I.PI no'e On the Kbit Mnrnhv made a statement, to m* 1 which T took d ovn in W'i ing ; after linking he stat.-mm he to’d m- wh-n-e I ■ *oti 1 I fi 1 rh ■ po-ket honk On tile 18‘h It.-ok tuiso .or Mnrohy ivi'h me to Hnt.er’s firm, and f.-.rrt ,t hde in the fene” hj ■ drew out the p .eke’-ho ik Tim ■ an u-s he s ii I ha ha 1 Im-nt. as ho di 1 U"t k' l.w they were of any value. Tin’s e! sed th" ease Piisonni- F- iHterston - b-ing ask" 1 if he ha 1 anvthi'.g to sav, said. T am gni'ty of j tl-e offence ; it. was my first and I hope I wiM i.e mv ! a-t. I l.av- a « ife in Dune 1 in, who is vet y i 1 Prisoner Mnrnhv said he was gni’ty, it I was his li st off nee. a-d hj >pcd it would he th“ last as 'on: .a he dved, P is-.n- s w-'t-e then committed for trial 1 ■■'t 'be next, Giimhi il sea-imt, to be Imldeti j at Dunedin