MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1363, 27 June 1878, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday, June 27. [Before G. L. Alellish, E»q., R.M., and F. Hobbs, Esq., J.P.] Drunkenness. —Two first offenders were fined 5s each. Larceny. —Mary Dnfftis was charged with the larceny of a shawl, value £2, the property of John Mortlock, John Mortlock, foreman of Booth’s sawmills, deposed —I engaged defendant as housekeeper on the 17th, and discharged her for drunkenness on the 22nd. After she had left I missed a shawl belonging to my late wife. I missed other articles, but cannot identify them. The shawl produced I identify as mine. Its value would be at least £2. I saw it in a little box on the 17th inst. I have not disposed of it, or authorised any one Jto take it. I paid her wages, 30s, for four days’ work. I advanced her £1 to fetch her from Ashburton. George Quartermaster, secondhand dealer, deposed—The prisoner disposed of the shawl produced to my wife on Saturday for 10s. We kept it in the shop till I handed it to Detective Walker. Prisoner gave the name of Anne Thompson. She said she would rather die of want than steal anything. Detective Walker deposed to receiving the shawl from the last witness, and to arresting the prisoner. When told of the charge she said “ I am thorougly honest; I never stole the shawl. My master’s things were all in confusion, and I told him that I would not be responsible for his things.” Prisoner denied taking the shawl or selling it. She was sent to prison for a month, with hard labor. John Crawley, alias Thomas Hinks, on remand, was charged with larceny by a servant of a watch and jewellery, value £l2 15s, the property of Samuel Stewart. Samuel Stewart, pawnbroker, deposed—The prisoner was in my service as a servant, and to do the housework—a sort of steward. He was with with me for about three months up to the time of his arrest. He was to receive 7s 6d a week with board, and he had a promise of something else if he kept right. I explained to him what he would have to do. He had nothing to do with the shop —only to keep the place clean. I have lately missed a good many things. I particularly missed a watch, of which I found the pawn-ticket in his room. This roused my suspicions. Before then I found him out in something wrong and threatened to lock him up. I went to Mr Nathan’s to see the watch, and found it, and after comparing it with my books found it was one that had been pledged with me. It was a silver hunting lever watch, No. 5217. Its value is about £t. The last time I saw it it was in my safe ; that was about a month ago. The safe was not always locked. I have missed chains and lockets and rings, but can’t say how many—two gold chains, two gold lockets, and a ring or two and. a cross. The chain and locket produced I identify; their value is about 30s. This locket and chain 1 missed the day before yesterday. The other about a week ago. The value of this is about £5. The earrings produced I can identify ; their value is about 10s. The cross produced I identify ; its value is about £l. The ring produced I identify; its value is about 10s. The other articles I identify; their value is 6s or 7 s - The watch is the only unredeemed pledge. I have not disposed of any of these articles, or authorised prisoner to take them. He had strict orders not to touch a thing. I gave information to Detective Walker. All, but the watch, were taken out of the window. Solomon D. Nathan, pawnbroker, deposed to prisoner having pledged the watch with him. Detective Walker deposed to the arrest of the prisoner. He had seen prisoner op Tuesday night, when in High street, take out a ring from his pocket and look at it by the light from a shop window Witness took the ring out of his fingers and charged him with stealing it and a watch from Mr Stewart. Prisoner said, “Oh, do let me go back to Mr Stewart’s,” Witness refused, and afterwards searched him at the station, where he found the articles which had been identified by Mr Stewart, excepting the watch. The evidence was read out by the clerk, and the prisoner asked the usual question. He had nothing to say, and was committed for trial at the next session of the Supremo Court in Christchurch,