MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 690, 5 September 1876, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, September 5. (Before G. L. Mellish, Esq, KM., and G. L. Lee, Esq, J. P. Drunk and Disorderly.—An inebriate who appeared for the first time was fined ss. W. H. Newby, charged with being drunk and breaking a trap-door in a cell at the lock-up, was fined 40s and damage done. Lunacy from Drink.—T. F. Halliwell, who was remanded on this charge, and had recovered, was brought up and discharged. Wife Desertion.—A man answering to the name of Duncan McGregor was brought up on the charge of deserting his wife at Dnuedin. Since the arrest of defendant it had been found that he was not the right man, and on the application of Inspector Buckley he was discharged. Larceny.—Alfred J. Kent was charged on remand with stealing a purse containing money from E. Neil. From the evidence of the prosecutor it was shown that on Frir day, 26th May last, he met aocused on the

1 Papanui road, and they had some drink at the Junction Hotel. They then went as far as the Papanui Hotel, and had some more drink. At this place they picked up a man named Andrews, and walked along the road as far as the Sawyers' Arms Hotel, where they had another drink. At this latter place Andrews, who had been carrying a swag, was tying it up into a more compact parcel, and witness stopped to assist him, when accused put his hand into his pocket and took out a purse containing two £1 Bank of New Zealand notes, 4g 6d in silver, and a piece of greenstone. No one but accused could have taken the money out of his pocket. When first he met accused, he told him that he had only a few shillings about him. No one was present when the money was taken but accused and Andrews. After he had lost the money he went back to the Papanui Hotel and complained of having been robbed. By accused—l told you and Andrews at the time that one of you had taken the money. Accused here told the Bench that he had seen the piece of greenstone in Andrews' possession in the lock-up at Eaiapoi, Mrs Monk of the Eakanui Hotel, Kaiapoi, called, stated that on the 27th May last accused chaLged a £1 note for some bread and cheese he had. There was another man with him at the time. Joseph Elliott, barman at the Papanui Hotel, remembered accused and two other men being in the bar of that hotel about the latter end of the month of May last. They left and afterwards one of the men came back and complained' of having lost a £5 note out of a portmonnie which he showed him. The prosecutor recalled by the Bench, stated that the purse he had lost was a folded purse. He hadn't it again in his possession after it was stolen, nor did he show it to the last witness as stated. The Bench considered that the evidence given by the prosecutor was not borne out by the evidence of the barman of the Papanui Hotel, and discharged the accused. Larceny op Jewellery.—Thomas A. Halsall and William Cassidy, who had been several times remanded, were brought up charged with the larceny of jewellery from the ship Camperdown, at Wellington, the property of A. T. Durham. Mr O'Neil appeared for the accused. Detective Neill deposed to the arrest of Oassidy in High street, and Halsall at Morton's Hotel, on 3rd August. When arrested Cassidy said he got the jewellery from Tom, who was working at Morton's Hotel. That jewellery referred to witness had previously got from H. A. Davis, pawnbroker. Cassidy also said that Tom had on several occasions given a man named Ted parcels of jewellery. This man was afterwards found to be named Edward Beel. Cassidy also said he had come from home with Halsall in the Camperdown, to Wellington, and bad come down from there together in the Hawea. When Halsall and Cassidy were together the former denied having given the other man any jewellery, and said he had heard that Mr Durham bad lost some jeweilery on board, and he had done all he could to find it for him. On searching Cassidy found a gold locket, three gold studs, one gold ring, produced. Witness had on the 26th July received from Davis, pawnbroker, a gold locket, set of sleeve links, gold stud and part of gold seal, produced. On the 3rd August had received from Mr Nathan, pawnbroker, a locket with a diamond in the centre, produced. On the sth August received from Mr 8. Cohen the oval ring and seal produced. Detective Bettington deposed to receiving three diamond studs, a gold coin, and silver pin produced from Mr Cohen, pawnbroker, Colombo street. Edward Bell, called, stated that he came to Wellington in the ship Camperdown. Knew, both of the accused on board. Afterwards met Halsall in Christchurch in the month of July. Some time afterwards Halsall gave him a ring, two lockets, a pin, set of diamond studs, gold coin, and a set of sleeve links. Disposed of the locket produced at a pawn shop, but didn't know the name of it. At Stewart's pawn shop sold a small locket, silver ring, sit of sleeve links, and a stud or two, all produced, with the exception of the silver ring. Halsall was with him at the time, and witness gave him the money in both instances Afterwards got a pin and set of studs, produced, from him, which witness pawned at Cohen's and gave him the money. By Mr O'Neill—Cassidy gaveme no jewellery, nor did I hand him any of the money. At the request of Inspector Feast, Kell was recalled, and said he had made a mistake in saying he had sold any jewellery to Stewart; it was to Davis he had sold it. He had altogether sold to three pawnbrokers. Thos. Hampton gave evidence of being a fellowpassenger in the ship Camperdown with both of the accused. He remembered meeting Cassidy in Christchurch subsequently. He asked witness to carry a trunk from a boarding house on the Lincoln road to an hotel, and gave him the pawn ticket produced in payment. Witness sold it to a man whom he saw in Court. M. Manheim, cook at the immigration barracks, deposed to buying the ticket produeed, for 2s 6d, from last witness. Witness took the ring and seal mentioned on the ticket out of pawn and pawned the ring again. The ring produced is the same. The seal produced is also the same one he took out. Evidence was given by S. Cohen, J. Nathan, H. A. Davis, licensid pawnbrokers, of the different articles having been pawned with them, principally by Kell and Halsall. A ticket for a ring and seal had been purchased by other persons, aud the former had been repawned at some of the shops. About the 3rd August Cassidy had offered Davie in pawn a ring, pair of sleeve links, pearl pin, and stuc ■ From information he had received he detained the man and gave him into custody. In cross-examination Davis said that Cassidy said he was pawning the articles for another man, and had offered to go to the depot with witness, which he did. Witness valued the articles that Cassidy wanted to pawn at about £3, pledge value. A. 'f. Durham, prosecutor, stated that he had been recently residing at Biverton, Otago and Southland province. Witness arrived in New Zealand by the ship Camperdown, first at Nelson and then at Wellington. Both of the accused were employed on board, Halsall is steward, and Cassidy as sailor. Witness bad a quantity of jewellery described on boar', prior to arriving at Wellington; kept ;he jewellery in a portmanteau in the 'tween leeks;, missed the jewellery before arriving at Wellington ; made his loss known throughout ihe ship, and the oaptaiu hoisted the police lag when they were entering the Wellington larbor. Witness missed the jewellery while hey were lying in Nelson harbor. Had teen the portmanteau all right within ;wenty-four hours of missing the jewellery. Reported the matter to the police at Jlnietohuroh, and afterwards came to

the province himself. Witnees identified some of the jewellery at Davis's shop, when he came to Christchurch. All the iewellery produced was witness's property, with the exception of one wedding ring, and was a portion of what he had lost. Neither of the accused had any right to have any of the articles in their possession. Both of them had access to the part of the ship where the portmanteau was kept. Valued the the property he had lost at between £4O and £SO. The jewellery in court would be worth about £2O. In cross-examination witness said he was steward on board the vessel. He and Halsall occassionally slept in the same berth. Had had a conversation with him about the alberts and one lockat, and did not ask him to raffle them for him on the voyage. None of witness's 3ewellery was raffled on the passage, and he did not give the man any of his iewellery. to pawn. Would swear that the set of studs, the pair of sleeve links, and the pin shown him were his property. Last saw them on the 6th June. His pottmanteaii was always kept locked. This concluded the evidence, and after it had been read over, both of the accused reserved their defence, and were fully committed! to Jtake their trial at the next criminal session of the Supreme Court,