RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3601, 7 September 1874, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Monday, September 7. (Before J. Bathgate, Esq., E.M.) Drunkenness f'oberb Lindsay, John M'Namara, John I’olson, John Irvine, Robt. Davis, and Thomas Burns, having been locked up since Saturday, were d : s barged with a caution ; Robert Wilkinson and Goo. Howe were each fined ss, with the option of twenty-four hours’ imprisonment ; Frank Grady, ss, or forty-eight hours’; George Alexander, 20s, or fourteen days’ ; William Birchard and Riehd. Meredith each 40s or fourteen days’ ; Sophia Austin, alias Thomson (this being her thirty-second conviction) L 5 or fourteen days’. A charge of using threatening language, preferred at the instance of her husband, against the lastnamed prisoner, was dismissed, his Worship advising Mr Thomas to apply to have her bound over to keep the peace. < respass, Wm. Krideson, for being illegally on the premises of Messrs Black and Thomson, was fined ss, with the alternative of twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. The offence was not a serious one. Fraud.—Sydney George Alexander was charged, ou the information of Daniel Sinclair, with having, oa \ugusfc 22, obtained 2, and at otuer times with having received various *mns of money, with intent to defraud him of the same.—Mr Stout defended. Daniel Sinclair, waiter at the Criterion said be first became acquainted with prisoner about eight or nine weeks ago through his stepping at the hotel. On August 17, in the course of a conversation, prisoner told witness that he was going to speculate in land, or, as he was not very strong, he would speculate iu an hotel, that being a fine paying game. He said he thought of going to Oammi on the following day to see the Star and Garter Hotel, as if he did not go on that day he thought it possible fat the hotel might be taken by another party. He further said, “I’m in a fix and do not know what to do for money, but I have from L 2.500 to L 3.000 in the Bank of Australasia, Dunedin. I don’t know what to do, as I had no idea that your banks closed so early here. Witness told him to go to Mr Nixon or Mr Barker, as they would probably advance him the money. He replied that he was in bed then, and was afraid to get up as he might catch cold, which would detain him in bed a few days longer. He had then been iu bed some days. He also said to witness “ Well, Dan, if you have the money you can give it to me ; it will be all r.ght.'’ Witness went down stairs and brought up Lls, which he handed over to prisoner. He gave prisoner the money believing ha had money in the bank. After handing him the money, prisoner thanked witness, saying he would not see him the loser of the money, but would give it to him when he returned from Oamaru. He went to Oamaru and returned on the following morning (Saturday). Iu the evening he told witness that he had purchased the hotel for a very large sura of money. He showed witness a receipt for L3,4(j0, for the purchase of the Star and Garter Hotel, including fixtures and good will. He said that he was a great fool to have left himself, short of cash, aud did not know how to pay his way. The conversation then dropped, and he appointed to meet witness at the Empire Hotel at S o’clock the same evening. While there he asked witness if he had a few pounds on him, and witness lent him L2 more, and he said that it would be all right, as he was going to the Bank next day to arrange 1 o draw L4oi) or LSOO, ami would then pay him. Witness subsequently lent him LI, and afterwar Is two sums of 10s, It was in consequence of the representations that witness gave him the money, aud also because prisoner promised to give him the position of manager of the hotel. By Mr Stout; Ho did not ask for a cheque or receipt. The main inducement which made witness give him the money was his representation about having the money in the' Bank of Australasia Re-examined: Witness received a communication relative to the purchase of the Star'and Garter Hotel at Oamaru, iu the shape of 9 telegram, Thfc

one now produced is the same.—Mr Stout objected to its conten'S being divulged till the police produced the evidence connecting prisoner with it. The •uicstion was not allowed at this stage of the proceedings.— iis Warship said that he could not go on any further with this charge to-day, as there were a nmnbpr of oases to be heard. -Sub-Inspector Mallard said that one of the gentlemen from the Banks had been detained all day, and he,, asked that his evidence might be taken. Patrick W. Rose, accountant to the Bai k of Australasia, Dunedin, said that Sydney George 1 lexande.r did not have an account in the bank. To witness's knowledge no person of that name ever had an account in it.— A remand was then asked for ■y the p -lioe for seven days.—Mr Scout : U on what grounds is a remand asked for! What further evidence have they in this case that they intend to offer and cannot produce this morning? The false pretence alleged is the bank, and the bank clerk has been called.-Sub-Inspector Mallard; The grounds a>e these : —This man has been going about Dmedin swindling everybody, and the police have not been, able to prepare all their cases. —Mr Stout ; VPhat has nothin a to do with this case. If there are a number of cases, then let separate informations be lodged. When the police have closed their case I shall have something to say about that,-Sub-lnspeotor Mallard; My cise has not closed.—Mr ttteut mentioned that prisoner had sent a cablegram Home asking for money.— Sub- Inspector Mallard : For which he swindled another party for the purpose of sending this telegram —Mr Stout; I don’t think Mr Ma;lard should say that A. civil case is pending in the matter, and I don’t see what right the police have to interfere in that —Sub. Inspector Mallard said that a criminal information would be lodged in that case also.—After farther discussion prisoner was remanded till Thursday, bail being fixed in bis own recognisance of LSO and two sureties of L 25 each. Petty Thefts.— Alfred Syndercombe was charged with stealing from the premises of Messrs Guthrie and Larnach, on August 22, one c'oek of the value of 25s.—Mr Johnson defended.—The clock had been stolen on the morning of the late fire, and was afterwards found in prisoner’s hous % where be had taken it. A remand till Thursday was granted at prisoner’s request.—Prisonei was then charged with stealing, on August 21, one ladder, of the value of 10s, the property of Messrs Hughes and Harvey. —He was further charged with stealing two iron grates, of the value of 3s 6d, from the Immigration Barracks. Prisoner was an immigrant by the Buckinghamshire, and these goods, as well as other stolen property, were found by Constables Henderson and Bain in his house on Saturday last. —Prisoner was next charged with stealing a quantity of drapery, of the, value of L 3, the property of Alex. R. Hay. A remand till Thursday was gt anted iu all the cases. [Left sitting }