RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT CLYDE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 935, 19 March 1880, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT CLYDE.

Monday, 15th March. (Before Jackson Keddell, Esq., R M.) Wm, Leibech, a decent respectable looking young man with a foreign accent, was charged with the larceny of some articles of food from the tent of a Chinaman on the Saturday previous. Wong Gye, Chinese Constable, acted as interpreter. In Quan, the prosecutor, on being sworn by the blowing out of a match, deposed on Saturday about one p.m. I found the prisoner in my tent, he was turning up my blankets. I looked round and missed some articles of food. I accused prisoner of stealing them, and 1 wanted to search his bag but he would riot let me. I then went outside and called a countryman. When ho came prisoner turned out of his bag a piece of bacon and a piece of fish (articles produced), which I recognise as rn'me I value them at 3s 6d or 4s. Prisoner then went away. I then came to Clyde and gave information to Wong Gye, the Chinese Constable, who went with me to the Police Camp. ,We all then went to the prisoner’s hut. Ah Lee, a Chinese, being sworn, deposed on Saturday last I heard In Quan coocy. On going to his tent I saw prisoner there, and saw him empty opt of his.hag the pieceof bacon and piece of fish. Prisoner then went away.

j Wong Gye, District Constable, deposed j in consequence of what In Qnan, the pro- ' secutor, told me I accompanied him and | Constable Briilgeraan to prisoner s hut. Prisoner was there, and in answer to a question said that be bad been in prosecutor’s tent. Constable BiMgeman then said the Chinaman In Quam cave him into custo ly for ste ding some articles of food. Prisoner made no renly. Ho was then removed to Clyde Gaol. This closed the ease for the prosecution. Prisoner, on being asked if he had anything to say in defence, said that he had been in the prosecutor’s tent and had eaten some cooked meat, but that he knew nothing about the articles he was charged with stealing, and that the Chinaman had never seen his bag as be had left it on the road some 200 yards distant. The Magistrate, in giving judgment, commented in strong terms on the meanness of the offence, saying that even admitting that prisoner had only eaten of the food and not taken the other, he deserved punishment, as he could not urge hunger as an excuse, as he was so close to his own hut. The sentence would he two mouths in Clyde Gaol with hard labour.