AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

Evening Star, Issue 3774, 30 March 1875, Page 2

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

T , Queenstown, March 26. William Jackson Barry and Elizabeth Sloan housemaid at Powell’s Family Hotel, were charged before the Resident Magistrate (Mr R. Beetham) with feloniously stealing clothes and a gold ring from her employers’ dwelling, bh or about the 19th instant. Mr H. J. Finn appeared for the prosecution ; Mr Wesley Turtoa for the defence. The clothes were seized by the police on Saturday night last, in Barry’s house. Mrs Powell and several other witnesses identl--118 ber P ro Perty. Mrs Powell also stated that she believed she had been robbed-of over LIOO worth of other property. Other witnesses proved that they found Barry in Powell s back yard on the night of the robbery between the hours of midnight and three 0 clock the following morning. Evidence was also given that after the female prisoner was asked about the goods she was seen running very hard from Barry’s house towards Powell’s. ,T ly D in ,„ the afternoon. She afterwards left Powells, and was not seen until two o clock on Monday morning, when she was arrested by the police. When the case for the prosecution was closed on Wednesday, Mr Turton put forward no defence ; he merely said there was no larceny, as the goods could be recovered by a civil action. ~~r Turton said he had no witnesses to o-n.ll, Mr Finn rose to correct Mr Tui ton’s statement, but the Magistrate refused to hear him, when a scene ensued. Mr Finn stated that the Bench Mr Turton in every shape, and threw every impediment in his (Mr Finn’s) way. .'fie Bench would not aUow Mr Finn to open his case, or contradict Mr Turton in his law. Ihe Bench stigmatised Mr Finn’s conduct as nngentlemanly. Mr Finn denied the appellation, and said he wanted to see fairplay. Both prisoners were remanded until to-day, when the Magistrate was to give his judgment. Mr Beetham, in proceeding to do so, said he had no doubt but that the clothes found in Barry’s house belonged to Powell, but would not oomnut, as it would cost the Government L 5.000, and stated that another information tor the same offence could be laid against the female prisoner, to be dealt with summarily.- -Both prisoners were discharged. Mr Finn asked that the depositions might be preserved, but did not state for what purpose. A second charge agumst the female prisoner was postponed until Saturday.—* Dunstan Times.’