MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 344, 20 July 1875, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, July 20. [Before G-. L. Mellish, Esq, R.M.] Drunk and Disorderly.—J. McKoywas fined 40s, and Francis Plummer 20s. Larceny oe a Cheque.— William McKay, alias George, who had been remanded on this charge on his own request for the production of evidence, was again brought up. The accused failed to produce any evidence, and having reserved his defence, was fully committed for trial. On the application of the accused, his Worship consented to allow bail in two sureties of £75 each. Larceny oe a Pawn Ticket. —Henry Mullens was charged on summons with the larceny of pawn ticket, with which he had released a watch and chain, Mr Thomas appeared for the defendant. H. W. St Jean called, stated that he was a seaman He remembered being in Christchurch on the 3rd April. He pledged a watch, chain, and trinkets at the pawnshop of Mr Davis. The watch, chain, and appendages produced are those he had pledged. He got a ticket from Davis at the time. Pledged the watch, &c, for £3 10s. The ticket produced is the one he got. He put the ticket in his pocketbook. Shortly afterwards he went to Rangiora, and stayed at the Club hotel there. Some little time afterwards he missed the ticket. After this he went to the pawn shop, but the watch had been released. He had never sold or disposed of the ticket hi any way, nor had he given any one authority to redeem the watch and chain. The value of the watch and appendages is about £lO. Did not know the defendant. By Mr Thomas— Went to Mr Davis’s shop on the evening of the 3rd April, and to Rangiora a day or two afterwards. Went direct to the Club Hotel from the Railway station. Went by the mid-day train, and slept at the hotel that night, but did not remember the number of the room. First missed the pawn ticket in May, while he was in Wellington. Remained for a week at Rangiora, and stayed two or three nights at the Red Lion Hotel, and the rest of the time at a boarding-house. He could not say when and where he lost the ticket. Davis did not tell him when he went to him who had released the watch. Davis said that the watch had been released, and he (witness) had sold the ticket. Heard from the police that defendant had the watch and chain. Mrs Harriett Bums, living at the Rangitata, called, stated—She was living at the Club Hotel, at Rangiora, in the beginning of April last. The defendant was landlord of the hotel. Remembered seeing the last witnesss at the hotel, and he, slept in No 4 room. After he had left she cleared out his bedroom, and found a pawnticket in it for a watch and chain on which £3 10s had been received, "When she found it she gave it to defendant’s wife. Believed the ticket was dated the 3rd April, 1875. Told defendant’s wife that she had found it under the looking glass. Believed the ticket produced was the one she gave Airs Mullens. By Air Thomas—She could not say whether she found the ticket the same day that the prosecutor left. Called to Mrs Mullens, who came to the landing and took it into her bedroom, and put it into a work box which was on a chest of drawers. Did not see the ticket afterwards. Did not remember when that room was next occupied. Henry A. Davis, licensed pawnbroker in High street remembered the first witness pledging a watch, chain, and trinkets produced at his shop. Gave him the ticket produced at the time. The watch, &c, was in his (witness’) shop from the 3rd to 21st April, It was redeemed by the defendant. Asked him (defendant) when he came to redeem the watch, and he said he had bought it; but he could not give any description of the person from whom he had bought it. Some days afterwards the prosecutor applied for it, and complained of having lost the ticket, and he (witness) referred him to the police. By Air Thomas—When defendant came to the shop he gave his address, and said he kept the Club Hotel, Rangiora. This was after he (witness) had told him that he was not the person who had pawned it. Defendant said he bought the ticket for 15s. Did not recollect defendant saying that if such were the case he had better not release it. He (witness) might have said, “ You are safe in releasing the ticket, as I am bound to give the watch up to any person who produces the ticket.” Defendant did say that it was not from a man in uniform from whom he had bought the ticket. He (defendant) did say that a man in uniform had stayed at his hotel. Re-examined—All the information given by defendant was in answer to questions put by me. Detective Kerby remembered the prosecutor reporting the loss of a pawn ticket, also of the watch having been released from the pawnshop. From enquiries made he went to the Club Hotel, Rangiora, kept by defendant. Spoke to him about the watch and chain, and asked if he had taken them out of pawn. At first he said he had not. Half a minute afterwards he said “Yes, I have,” and handed over the watch produced. Asked him where the chain and appendages were. The (defendant) made no answer for about half a minute, and then said he couldn’t find them. Went up Rangiora next morning, and then prisoner gave him the chain and appendages produced. He (Alullens) said he had bought the pawn ticket from a man, and came to Christchurch, and had taken the watch, &c, out of pawn. Alullens could not describe the man. He said there was no one present when he bought the ticket. Have asked the defendant several times since if he had seen anything of the mau who sold him the ticket. On the 18th July defendant came to the depot and said he’d sooner pay any money than that this case should go into Court, as he did not wish to have his name published in the papers. By Air Thomas— Defendant at first denied knowing anything about having released the watch and chain, but after considering for half a minute he admitted having done so. There was a good number of people in the bar at the time, and defendant was rather busy. He had called

defendant into a private room. Defendant said that a man in uniform had stopped at his place. He did not say anything about the pawn ticket having been found in the house, but said he had bought it. He did not say that the man from whom he had bought the ticket had slept in the same room as the man in uniform. He (witness) had never spoken to Mrs Mullens about the ticket having been found in the house. The night defendant handed over the watch, ho said he could not find the chain, but he went up-stairs immediately afterwards to look for it. When he came down he said he could not find it, but on the following morning he gave it to witness. The night that defendant could not find the chain the train was about to start, and he (witness) came to town by it. Inspector Feast gave evidence relating to the loss of the ticket being reported, and to conversations with defendant about the man from whom he had purchased the tickets. He (defendant) gave a sort of a description of a man at first, but afterwards said he could not describe the man. Had known defendant for about four years, but did not know he was a man worth money, Hedid not believe the defendant’s statements from the first. If he had not known where he could find him he would have arrested him. Defendant reserved his defence, and was fully committed to take his trial at the next criminal sessions of the Supreme Court. On the application of Mr Thomas, bail was granted to defendant in two sureties of £IOO each, and himself in £2OO.