THE SLIMES CASE,

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 510, 25 August 1902, Page 3

THE SLIMES CASE,

PRISONERS’ STATEMENTS.

(Special to Timkb.) Auckland, Saturday.

During tho hoaring of tho Waihi slimes caso it was statod that tho weight of tho stolen slimes was estimated at about 3cwt, and that their valuo was about £IOO. Mr Banks, the Waihi Company’s metallurgist and chomist, on being questioned by Mr Justice Conolly, said that the value of that portion of tho stolon property recovered was about £3OO, this amount including tho valuo of the portion found in the possession of tho prißonors at tho timo of their arrest in May last, and produced in Court as evidence. On tho jury announcing their verdict of guilty His Honor said ho was convinced that there was a considerable plant of tho stolen slimes somewhere, and that he would defer passing sontonee for a week, adding that the sentence would largely depend on what assistance tho prisoners gavo towards tho recovery of that portion of the stolen property which had not been accounted for.

On the usual question being put to him, Finn said he had nothing to say as to why sentence should not bo passed on him.

Mr Martin said that since the prisoners were last beforo the Court they had submitted themselves to an examination, by tho police and also by the representatives of the company which had been robbed. They had handed a statement to the police officers, who, with tho prisoners’ and his (Mr Martin’s) consent, had visited them and put such questions to them as they thought proper. The representatives of the company had also done likewise. Tho result was that tho prisoners had made

certain statements, and a written statement had also been supplied by them. So far as the question of restitution was concerned tho prisoners maintained that they had none of the stolen property put by, and ho would point out the vast amount of leakage which had [necessarily occurred from tho bags of slimes. Tho most valuable portion of the slimes would bo thinnest portion, which would most readily escape. Tho ovidenco had shown that a largo quantity had been found scattered on the floor of tho precipitating room, along tho road, and in and about the two holes from which parcels of tho slimes had been taken.

His Honor : It is absurd to suppose that one-half of the stuff went in this way'

Mr Martin said the value which had been placed on the stolen slimes was an estimate only, based on their probable weight in the wet state. They were now dry, and, of course, had shrunken very much in bulk. In addition to this the stuff had been carried and carted about a great deal, and as the evidence showed it had also been troated to some extent in a rough and wasteful way in an open furnace. The prisoners had put themselves unreservedly in the hands of the prosecution, and had given them all the information it was in their power to give,

His Honor : If that Is the prisoners' explanation—that the prosecutors have got all the stuff back except wbat was spilled on the road —1 may say that Ido not believe it. Mr Martin : It is not merely a statement made to the prosecution. The prisoners, as I have already said, have submitted themselves to an examination by both the police and the representatives of the company. They have answered the questions put to them and have supplied all tho information they are able to give. His Honor : When I deferred passing sentenco a week ago I did so, as I then said, in order that tho prisoners should havo the opportunity, if they thought fit, of explaining what had become of the rest of tho stuff. I have no doubt that these two mon aro not tho only, ones coneerned ia this robbery. Thoro are probably others involved, and what they took or got has not been recovered. Have you any statements which you wish to put before me, Mr Marti.c- 1

Mr Martin : The police have tho statements, Your Honor. They are not in my possession. His Honor : They are not in my possession, either. Mr Martin said he understood that Detective Miller bad taken charge of the statements.

The prisoner Egar, on being called upon, said : “ Your Honor, all I wish to say is that I have already mado my statement, which I understood would bo placed before Ycur Honor. It is utterly beyond my power to make any further restitution.”

His Honor : I havo nothing. Mr Tolo: I have received nothing, Your Honor. I understand that tho statements do not affoct the question of the restitution of tho property. His Honor: Do they affect any other persons ? Mr Tole : Yes ; I understand so.

His Honor : Ido not understand why statements should have been got from the prisoners, and have been kept from the Court. I did not postpone passing sentence in this ease in order that tho officials of tho company should get information. Mr Tolo : No information has been vouchsafed to me, Your Honor. His Honor: I do not blamo you, Mr Tolo. I wanted to get somo information, but it appears that it has been given to someone who has kept it. Mr Martin : The police have got tho information, Your Honor. Mr Cotter : I assure Your Honor that I have had nothing whatever to do with this.

His Honor: I did not think that you had. Mr Cotter: Counsel on both sides, I am sure, would do all they could to assist the Court, but somebody is keeping these statements back. Mr Tole (after conferring with Detective McMahon) : If Your Honor thinks that you should have the informafion, yon might defer passing sentence until this afternoon. His Honor : Are they here ? Mr Tole : They may be in the inspector’s office. The inspector is away at present. His Honor : I think I ought to have them. It is only fair to the prisoners. They have referred to these statements, and they ought not to have been kept back. Mr Tole : I daresay thore has been some misapprehension as to tho position. His Honor: lam not going to make myself an orderly for the polico and remand prisoners for a week [in order that the police may get information. Mr Tole : It was purely on a question of restitution that Your Honor remanded the prisoners. Would Your Honor defer passing sentence until 2 o’clock '? His Honor: I think that will be tho best plan. (To the prisoners): Do you wish me to see those statements ? Finn : Yes, Your Honor.

Egar: They wero drawn up with tho intention of Your Honor seeing them, and placod in tho hands of Detective Miller. His Honor, on inspecting tho statements, said that they did not give the information ho required, but implicated others, and it would bo the duty of tho police to enquire if there was sufficient evidence against those parties. As already telegraphed, His Honor sentenced the accused to twelve months’ imprisonment, with hard labor.