MAGISTERIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2151, 6 August 1907, Page 2

MAGISTERIAL.

MONDAY, AUGUST 5. (Before Mr. Barton, S.M.) Drink.—Two first offenders were charged with drunkenness. One did not appear and his bail, £l, was estreated. The other, a respectably dressed tradesman, admitted the charge and, at his own request, a prohibition order was issued against against him. . Alleged Theft.—James Collingwood was charged with having on July 10th, stolen a. pair of drawers, two pairs of trousers, a shirt', one pair of boots, a coat and a rug, the property of George Dawson. Mr. Stock appeared to watch the case on behalf of Mr. Attwood, who purchased the articles from accused. —George Dawson, laborer, stated that he had left his swag in the British Empire Hotel about the 9th of [July. He described the articles, which he valued at £2. Accused knew his swag was at the British Empire. On Saturday last Witness went to the hotel to look for liis swag; it was not there, and from what he was told he went and laid information at the police station. The articles produced, which he had seen at Attwood’s, were his property. He had not given the accused any permission to take them.—W. J. Attwood, second-hand dealer, deposed that the clothes produced were purchased by him from the accused about the 15th July for 2s 6d. He was quite certain that the person selling was accused, but was not quite sure as to the date.—Accused, in giving ovidcnce on liis own behalf, told the Bench that he had met- 1 Dawson on the 9tli; they bought two bottles of beer and had five or six drinks together. Dawson told him he had his clothes at a private boarding-house. They agreed to go and get the clothes and go to the bush together. They went and got the clothes, and went to the British Empire Hotel together, all the clothes being in the one bag. Next afternoon (the 10th) he went to the hotel and asked the barman for the .bag which he gave him. Witness took his own clothes out, tied the bag up, and handed it hack, saying, “That bag belongs to a. man who got 24 days.” Witness told the barman he was going to the bush. He went to the waterworks on the 12th to try and get a job; he was in town on the 11th; on the 13th he got a lift in the coach to Tiniroto, and slept there that night; then he went to Waikaremoana, arriving there about ten days later. He had to go round by Frasertown. He returned to Gisborne about the 29th July. He had only gone to the bag once at the hotel. He was quite certain he had not taken the bag away; he was quite sober on the 10th and knew what he was doing all day.—ln reply to questions by Detective Maddern, accused adhered to his statement. He was quite certain that he did not sell the things to Mr. Attwood.—Accused asked for an adjpurnment to enable him to produce witnesses; he • wanted the proprietor of the Bridge Hotel to attend.—The Magistrate said he would like to hear the evidence of the barman.—The healing was adjourned to the. following morning.