MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1699, 31 July 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

OHRISTCHUBOH, Thursday, July 31. Drunk and Disorderly.—A first offender was fined sa. Larceny.—William Buchanan was charged with stealing a watch, value £2, the property of George RoßsUer. A nnie Rossiter, daughter of Henry Roßsiter, watchmaker, Armagh street, stated her brother, Henry Rossiter, keeps a shop in High street. Last July he was taken ill, and remained so for about three months. During that time she looked after the shop. One day a man came in and wanted to buy a pipe. She sent to her brother to ascertain the pi ice and left the man in the shop. He desired her to run after her vourger brother, whom she had sent, to hurry him, and on her return the man hsd gone. In the evening she missed a watch. The one produced in Court resembled the one that was taken, but she could not swear to it. He was a yourg man and wort a red scarf and black hat. She could not swear the prisoner was the man, but he was very like him. The watch was hanging on a nail in the shop within reach of the prisoner. \vnen witnees went after her brother to hurry him she ran as far as the corner of High and Lichfield streets. There was no other person in the shop when she returned. Walter Gabriel Roseiter identified the watch in Court as his properly. It was worth about 50s. After it was miessd ho reported the matter to the police. Was unacquainted with tho prisoner. Alexander Whitley stated that tho prisoner hoarded at his houae in Philipstown about a month during tho spring of laet year. A birthday was kept some lime in August, and the prisoner came in and gave Mb son a watch, which he said he got at a raffle, and it had cost him 10a. Witness subsequently exchanged it with a man named John Macintosh. The watch in Court was like the ono witness had exchanged, but it now had a second hand, which it had not when he parted with it. John Macintosh, a laborer, stated that he exchanged an open faced lever watch for a double case one with the prisoner about a month ago The- watch produced was the one ho received ; ho had a pecond hand put to it. Detective Benjamin deposed that ho arrested the prisoner on the 28th instant noar Halswell. Told him he was charged with stealing a watch from Rossiter's shop last year. Ho said he had got the watch at a raffle, and afterwards that he obtained it at a rallls. He did not know the man. He afterwards said to Alexander Jackson that he had bought tho watch from a man at the Bank of New Zealand. On bis way to the lock up he said— *' I did not steal the watch. I give 10* for it." At the request of Mr Inspector Hickson the prisoner was remanded for twenty-four hours for the production of a witness to prove the date the prisoner gave ho watch to Alexander Whitby's son.