MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1287, 4 May 1878, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH Saturday, Mat 4, [Before GK L. Mellish, Esq., R.M.] Laboent. —John William Dovenish was brought up, charged with stealing a pair of boots, value 12s 6d, the property of Benjamin J. Hale, on the 2nd instant. The prosecutor stated that he kept a boot and shoe store at the corner of Colombo and Cashel streets. On the 2nd instant, about half-past 2 o’clock, he missed a pair of boots from his door, where he had hung them —the pair of boots produced. The boots in question had not been disposed of to any one. Prisoner’s face was familiar to him, but he did not know him. He had not been authorised to take the boots. John Ousick, a lad in the employ of Mr Ooombes, leather merchant, Cashel street, said he saw the prisoner coming out of a right-of-way between Mr Combes and Mr Piper’s. He had a pair of new boots concealed under his coat. The accused was walking qnietly. Witness watched him for some distance. Robert Carmichael, a messenger in Cobb’s office, said he saw the prisoner on the 2nd inst. getting off the Tai Tapu coach about half-past 10 a.m. Later in the day he saw him going in the direction of Mr Hale’s. He had no parcel with him at that time. A little tyne afterwards he came from Mr Hale’s with a pair of boots partially concealed under his coat. Subsequently at ConstableWalkcr’srequest identified accused at the White Hart. James Connor, a labourer, residing at the Little River, said on the 2nd inst. he saw the prisoner outside Mr Hale’s shop examining a pair of halfWellington boots which he had in his hands. Suspecting his intentions, he watched him, and saw him run away with something concealed under his coat. Constable O’Connor, stationed at Christchurch, deposed to finding a pair of boots between Madras street and the Ferry road —the boots produced in Court. Accused, who made no defence, merely saying he took the property while under the influence of liquor, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor. Edward Wright was similarly charged with stealing a tub of the value of Is 6d, the property of Henry Hedge. The prosecutor deposed that he was a storekeeper in Colombo road south. On the 3rd inst., on the information of a constable, searched for and missed an American tub, the same produced in Court. Last saw it outside his store door, where he had placed it in the morning. It was worth Is 6d, and had not been sold t« prisoner or any one else. Accused said he picked up the tub a short distance from the prosecutor’s store. Henry Alexander, licensed pawnbroker, said the prisoner asked him to lend him 2s on the tub, but as he (witness) had a doubt how it came into accused possession, he refused to take it in pledge, and gave information to to the police. Formal evidence of the arrest of prisoner being given, he was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment with hard labor, io being his first conviction for theft.