MAGISTERIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2232, 2 July 1908, Page 2

MAGISTERIAL.

FASHIONABLE BOOTS.

TEMPT TWO YOUNG MEN.

Two young men were walking down Gladstone Road at half-past five on Tuesday evening and, seeing a fashionable looking pair of boots hanging outside Air John Harris’ bootshop, took a l'uncy to thorn, and likewise took tlio boots. Not liking to be seen wearing such up-to-date footworn- immediately upon taking possession, they proceeded to carefully lay them aside, for futuro use in a culvert in Bright street. A man who was passing chanced to see the hoots being temporarily “put up the spout” and made it his business to informthe rightful owner, who at once communicated with tho police. Detective Itawlo went along to the culvert and transferred the boot? t 0 the Police .Station, and afterwards with Constable Gcott, kept a watch upon tho drain pipe. At nightfall and after three hours’ wait, along came a man named Jones who, after taking a careful look around, stooped down and looked into the culvert as if searching for something. The officers of the law questioned him on\ -his curiosity as to the contents of the drain, and his answer being unsatisfactory, he was arrested. When tho police officers reached the Police Station with their prisoner, a man named Joseph Moore, who was Jonos’ mate, was already there making' a bogus complaint about an alleged theft. As Jones immediately struck up an acquaintance with the visitor the police also put him into the cells, and charged both men with the theft. When they were brought before Air W. A. Barton S.AL, yesterday morning to answer for the cri-me, both pleaded not guilty. Air Harris identified the boots as bis property and said he valued them at I,Bs 6d Tho boots produced in Court were covered with mud.

Alexander Gilmour said he . saw Jonos take the boots from Air Harris’ shop and put them underneath his coat. He told Air Harris of the theft. He watched both men go into Bright street. Constable Scott told how Jones, when dark, went along Bright street and looked into the culvert whole the boots were found. When lie saw the articles had been taken lio walked away. He was then arrested.

Detective Rawle also, told how anxious Jones was to regain possession of the boots. When he arrested the man be asked him why lie acted in such a peculiar manner in Bright street. Jones told a most plausible story, -and denied that he had been in Bright street before on the same evening. AVlien tile prisoner was taken to the Police Station, Aloore was already there making a complaint about another matter. He was questioned as to his complicity iu tho theft, and afterwards locked up. Jones made a statement from the dock denying the charge, but Aloore chose to give evidence upon oath and denied any knowledge of the theft either by. himself or Jones. Cross-examined, Aloore said it was not true, when the witnesses swore he was standing outside Air Harris’ boot shop. Detective Rawle said the men were brothers-in-law to each other, but be did not know anything else about them.

The -Alagist-rate said he was satisfied both men were guilty, and would defer passing sentonco for seven days to allow the police to make inquiry int 0 their records. ■DRUNKENNESS.

AVillia.ni Adams- was fined 106 or 48 hours’ imprisonment for being drunk at Te Karaka- on Tuesday. Three prohibition orders wore’ granted. ‘