MAGISTERIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2357, 22 October 1881, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

OHRISTOHUROH. Saturday, October 22. fßefore G. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M.] Larceny.—Wm. Edington, a lei aged about sixteen, was brought up charged with haying stolon, on October 21st, one piece of tweed valued at Bs, and, on October 18th, one piece of tweed valued at 3s 6d, the property of James Wyvi'l, his employer. Ho pleaded “ Guilty.” Hie employer stated that the boy had up to the present offence conducted himself honestly and well. Witness had employed him for about three months. He was sentenced to one week’s imprisonment, with hard labor, for each offence, the terms to be concurrent.

Receiving Stolen Goods.—Daniel Mark was charged with receiving the goods described in the previous case, knowing them to bo stolen. Mr Joyce appeared for the accused. William Edington deposed that he had been in the employment of James Wyvill, tailor, of Manchester street. Accused carries on business also as a tailor in Manchester street, the two places being not far apart. Witness was in the shop of accused on the 18th inst. Accused asked him whether ho could bring accused a piece of oloth to make trousers, small pieces of remnants, promising that be would make it all right with witness. Witness consented to try to get the stuff, and on the 21st instant he took to accused '.a piece of light tweed. Accused opened it up, and said, “Oh ! this is rubbish.” He then gave witness 2a for the tweed, and asked witness whether he could get a piece of dark oloth suitable for making a waistcoat. On the previous Tuesday, October 18tb, witness had sold to prisoner for Is a piece of dark tweed. Prisoner knew very well that witness was employed by Mr Wyvill. In cross-examination he said that on the day before Mr Simpson, Mr WyviU’s manager, had a conversation with him, in consequence of which ho confessed to having taken from the shop a bundle containing the piece of light tweed before-mentioned, which he deposited with Mr Reece, a hairdresser, who lived next door, afterwards taking the parcel to the shop of the prisoner. Mr Simpson thereupon told witness that what he wanted was to got Mark convicted. It was not intended to press the charge against witness ; if he got off he would be re-employed After that, witness and Mr Simpson went to prisoner’s shop, where witness pointed out the piece of light tweed. Prisoner told Mr Simpson that witness hr.i left it for a waistcoat to bo made from it. To the Bench —There had not been any conversation between witness and prisoner respecting the making of a waistcoat. Alfred Simpson, manager for Mr Wyvill, tailor, of Green’s Buildings, Manchester street, corroborated Edington’s statement as to the confession and the visit to the shop of Mark. Mark then said the boy had brought him the makings of a vest for himself. Edington denied this, and said that Mark had bought it from him for 2s, and that previously ho had bought from him a piece of dark cloth for Is. With respect to that, accused said the boy had brought it to be made up into a pair of trousers. These statements were made in the presence of Edington, who denied the truth of them. Cross-examined—The tweed produced belonged to Mr Wyvill. He knew it to be so, because he had bought the whole lot from Dunedin, and he had never seen any like it in Christchurch. He admitted having promised to speak in favor of Edington if the latter told the truth. He had also promised to take the boy back, but he did not say in so many words that ho wanted to get at Mark. Edington, recalled, stated that he had cut the stolen pieces of cloth from off the rolls. They wore not remnants. Constable O’Connor deposed to going, with Mr Simpson and Edington, on the afternoon of the 21st inst., to prisoner’s shop. In a conversation about the cloth, prisoner said he had lent Edington 2s, and Edington had left the light colored oloth as security for its repayment. Edington denied that, saying that he had Bold it out and out, Mark also said that the dark tweed had been brought by Edington to bo made up as a pair of trousers. Edington denied that also. Witness then arrested prisoner, who, in his presence, asked Mr Mumford, fruiterer, to go bail for him. Mumford said, “What’s up?” Prisoner said, " Oh, I bought a piece of twoed for 2s from that fellow,” pointing to Edington, “and I have been arrested for it.” In cross-examination, witness said prisoner was a second-hand dealer and tailor. He is a Gorman Jew, not speaking English very well. In answer to the Bench, witness said ho had no difficulty in understanding the language used by prisoner. Mr Joyce addressed the Bench for the prisoner, urging that it would be impossible to obtain a conviction from a jury. He commented on tho fact that the principal part, if not tho whole, of tho evidence was that tendered by Edington, who in this cose was the thief. His Worship said ho must go against Mr Joyce ; ho had not tho slightest hesitation in sending the case for trial. Prisoner was then committed for trial at the next sessions of the Supremo Court to be held at Christchurch. Bail was allowed, prisoner in £IOO, and two sureties in £SO each.