R. M. COURT, CLYDE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1126, 30 November 1883, Page 3

R. M. COURT, CLYDE.

Mo>'pay. Novembek 2Gth,. 1883-• (Before Major Jackson Keiidell, R. M.) William Yielding, alias Loams, t alias Limning, was brought up charged with burglariously entering the business premises of R. L. Begg, Sunderland street, (Jlyde, on the night of the 16th in ~t. Mr Inspector Hickson conducted the prosecution. James Begg, sworn, deposed : 1 am the son of Robert Leith Begg, stoiekeeper and chemist, Clvde. I remember the 16th inst. There was a concert in the Town Hall that evening. 1 closed the store that evening about 8 o’clock, leaving by the front door, and took the key with me. The back door I locked ami bolted, leaving the key in the lock. Between 9 and !<• in the evening I returned to th < store. After lighting a candle and seeing all safe and nothing missing, I left. I only stayed about ten minutes. On the following morning, Saturday, the 17th inst., at about 8 a.m., 1 opened the store for business. On going behind the counter I saw a gold ring and a brass one on the floor. On looking into the glass case on the counter I saw that nearly all the jewellery had been taken away. Sometime a'terwvrds I missed a suit of tweed clothes, a pair of boots, and a pair of socks. Im re 'ia'oly on discovering the loss I went to the Police Camp and gave information. Sergeant Flemming was quickly on the soor. Of the jewellery in s-dng were two silver watches, I cross, I lady’s chain. 3 or 4 seta of hrooOncs ami earrings, 1 brooch, 7 or 8 lockets, 1 pencil case (all silver). 1 gold locket. I gold cameo brooch. The whole of *' > articles I am certain were in the store w n I left it on the previous evening. 3he panel or the bark door was burst rail some inch boards nailed on to the iiioi.ie of the doog were wrenohel away. ah attempt had been made to lever the lock i ff as if by a chisel. On making a starch about the clothes, boots, and socks were found under some fl ioring boards on the adjoining premises. On the Sunday f Mowing, the 18th inst., f saw som i of the jewellery in tliei possession ,of Sergeant Fleming. I identified it by the trade mark. On the Tuesday followin' I saw more of the missing jewellery, which I also identified by the; trade marks! The two silver lockets pro-1 dneed I also identify. To the best of my knowledge all the property stolen, with the exception of the pencil ease, is recovered. At the date of the robbery myfather was away from home, and still is. I was left in charge of the business during his absence. I have frequently seen the accused in Clyde at Murray's Vincent County Hofei. Gilbert Fowler, baker, but not carrying on business, deposed : On the morning of the 17th inst., between 5 and 6, 1 wasin my garden. Whilst sitting down I saw a man near a heap of stones at the roar of Murray’s Hotel atahles He appeared to be looking about him, an 11 attracted my attention. He drew something out uf (hie of Ins pockets, and his conduct exciting my attention I took a pair of binocular glasses out of my pocket and looked through them at him. >r here were some loose sheets of iron aga'nst the stones. He put something under one of the sheets of iron. He then took something e se out of another pocket, and also put that under the iron. I recognised the ram, having seen him on several occasions, aiid accused is the man I' saw I first hj •nisi of the robbery on the morning rif’fhe 18th inst. and at once sent fur a neighbour nartißil William Holt, and told him what 1 had seen. He at once went to the heap pf'stonea. and brought back a dark lant,ern_ (produced). I told him to go hack and' look under the iron, and he did so. 1 am an invalid, suffering from chronic rheumatic gout, and can walk but little. That is the reason 1 asked Mr Holt to make the search. He came back with something in a handkerchief. I did not see what it was, but I tolrrhim to go and give information to the police. Accused was differently dre;«ed to what he is now

but I have no. doubt of hia identity. By accused : It is fjlcveu chains measured distance from’my house to whole I'suw you at the atones. , ( Accuse I hoi e'asked f r the binoculars, so as that-ha oouldllnnk through than. The glass-s waregiv-n him. and after kinking throu jh'theth siid he was salistied.)

. Will*,Hi'n Holt, ■ deposed :t. am. the son of ‘James Holt', coal merchant, Clyde. This witne is corroborated last witness’s evidence about going to, the stones, adding that on lifling ono hf'the'Sheets of iron he saw two bottles of cordials, a bundle done up in a handkerchief,’ and a silver locket ani a silver ear, ing on the ground. I took them home to my fatherjs house. I hel I them up, so that 'Mr Fowler could see them. He .was standing in his doorway- My father went to the Police Station, and 1 went again to the • heap of stones, and remained there tijl ; ; BergA-pit Fleming arrived. I handed all .the, things I found to the Sergeant The han k ßr ohief contained a number of .articles of' jewellery, three common door keys, atuV three' skeleton keys, On the 2Dth. iwh'en in company with two other young men, both residents of Clyde, 1 made another search, aur ngst the stones, and found another lot of jewellery, m.eluding Itwo''ttUve’r SHJthSs, 1 . bhaim crosi, etc. They, about from where 1 foupd the articles. There is ahout’loo ‘stone in th» heart -Ttiejl ■ are Jhr building. ‘ DVeefeTy’after t foiind t.he last lot, .! gave them Sergeant' Fleming. ,fyr.a-ensed ; Wji'-n Mr Fowler simke to mo about the aqavph I went strai ht down to the 'heap of 6 one». There was no one' with me when I found the lantern. , ■ Bridget Fitzgerald deposed : I am housemaid at Morraiy’s Hotel. I know aecused from his staying in the hotel as a boarder for the past three or four weeks. On the 12th inst. I saw aecused trimming a dark lantern. He had the inside part in bis hand. 1 have seen the handkerchief produced in accused’s he Iroom in the hotel. On the. 17th iust. I found a Skeleton key in his bed. I put it into the ash basket. I told Mr Murray about the key, and from what he said I took it from the bucket and gave it to him. By accused : I recognise the handkerchief by the red. spots on it. Occasionally some other man sleeps in the same room as you occupied on the night of the 16th. A man slept in the room, but yon di I not. Cross-examined,.; Accused did not go to his room till 9’o’clock on the morning of the 17th. By accused : At 9 o’clock of the morning of the 18lh, you were not very drunk, hut you were not sober. George Murray*- licensee of the Vincent County Hotel, deposed : Accused has been boarding at my hotel off and on for the past three or four weeks. He was upcountry to the races. On Saturday, the I7th inst, the. last witness gave me a kev she had found in accused's bed room. 1 gave it to Sergeant Flemming (key pmdneed), I identify it having ma-ked it. I was present when Sergeant Fleming arrested accused in thy hotel on Sun lay morning, the 18th ins*. Before arresting him he asked accuse 1 if the dark lantern belongs 1. to him. He said yes after examining it. The handkerchief he did not own. I made a search am mgst the he ip of of stones on Thursday, the 22nd ii-st, and on tinning over a stone I Tohnd two silver lockets. I handed them to the Sergeant the same day Accused did not go 'o bed on the night of btHeflfiih ihs.t, lie was iir- ah I 'but all night. I was up aty tfoyt nojly. John Fleming, Sergeant of Police, stationed at Clyde, corroborated; all the previous evidence regarding the robbery, aod the receiving- of the a olen property,' adding that from what Mr Mnnay had -aid to him he suspected the accused of the robbery, and im.’ilue bcourse arrested him, After the arrest I to.kacuW in view of Mr Fowler to see if he could rcco.misehiuj. y r Fowler sail’that is the man; 1 see no change, in him except the colour of t-he trousers. Th’tfrei- nothin" to internet the view between Mr Fowler’ r id ictand the heap of stones, re. erred Ui throughout the evidence. Mr Bo eg has no hesitation in recognising the jewellery and clothing , By accused : When. I showed you the. dark-lantein.on Sunday morning yon mhy have said to me that you had not. missj-.d it out of your room. ’ Prisoner having nothing to say was committed for. trial at the next criminal -sittings in Dunedin-