MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1619, 29 April 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

LYTTELTON. Tuesday, Apbil 29,

[Before H, Allwright and J. D. Macpherson, Esqrs., J.P.'s.J Larceny of an Ass. Charles Lyford, remanded for trial on the 22nd instant, was prosecuted for larceny .as a bailee of an ass, value £7, the property of Martin D. Cross. Accused pleaded guilty to selling the a?s, but not guilty of stealing it. Constable Moutray »aid he arrested the accused on the 21st April. Accused said he sold the donkey to a fisherman for £2 10s, and had given the money to a Mrs Petersen. Martin Cross, a native of Manilla, said I told the prisoner to take the donkey to Christchurch to a saleyard to be sold. I would bo there at the sale. I would go by train. I wont to Matson’s auction-room and waited for accused, but neither he nor the other donkey came. I informed the police when I came back to Lyttelton on Saturday night. Accused told me on the Monday following that he had sold the ass, and had given the money to a Mrs Petersen to give to me. He said he would go and find the female and get the money. He didn’t return. I found him after at Ruapekn and brought him to Lyttelton. Ho went into a house, and when he came out he said the female was not in. He then came with me to prison. Cross-examined by accused : I told you that if anybody asked you whether the ass would work in harness to tell them yes. I did not tell you I didn’t care what you did with it so long as you brought me the money. Henry Morrison, a fishmonger at Christchurch, said he asked the prisoner on the day in question whether he wanted to sell the donkey. He said yes, and that he wanted £4 for it. I offered £2 10s, which he accepted. He said the donkey was his. I didn’t get a receipt for the money. Sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labor. The donkey was returned to Cross.