THE MAUNGATUA BUSHRANGER.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2695, 27 November 1882, Page 3

THE MAUNGATUA BUSHRANGER.

CHAEGE OF HOUSEBEEAKING,

Henry Garret was brought up to-day at the Eesident Magistrate’s Court on remand from November 20th charged as above. Mr Joyce appeared for the accused.

Constable Wallace deposed that on the night of November IGth, from information received, he went up Gloucester street, near Latimer square. He found a crowd, in the middle of which was prisoner in custody of Messrs Longman, Davenport and Brunette. Prisoner was given in charge by them on a charge of having broken into the premises of Mr Longman. Prisoner was taken to the lock-up and searched. He had on him .£6 Cs 2d and two keys (produced). Witness went to Mr Longman’s place of business in Armagh street, where he found a bottle of wine on the floor of the kitchen. Later he found at the lodgings, and in the room of prisoner, the Eoyal Oak boarding-house, two other bottles of wine. They were in the pocket of a coat which was hanging up on the wall. Witness got into the room by unlocking the door with one of the keys found on prisoner. The other key would open Mr Longman’s back door. The keys had been filed a little.

Edward James Longman stated that ho was a wine merchant, carrying on business in Armagh street. He and an assistant named Brunette reside on the premises. The two front rooms axe used as a store. The kitchen at the hack and two rooms upstairs are used as a dwelling. On November 16th, witness left the place about 7 p.m. Brunette had gone before. The key of the back door was hidden in a spout close to it. At about 8.30 a man named Davenport and witness came to the house. They found the back door open, and they heard a noise inside ; thinking it was Brunette, witness called out, “Is that you, Albert ? ” There was no reply. On looking through the window he saw the outline of a man in the office. Witness then closed the door, and leaving Devonport there he went to the front, which he found all secure. Returning, he heard Devonport say, as if to some one, “ Stand there.” On turning the corner witness saw prisoner come out, who pushed past both of them. Prisoner had a stick in his hand and raised it. Witness then struck him twice on the arm with a broom. Prisoner then made off. They followed him and brought him to bay at the place described by Constable Wallace. He stopped of his *wn accord After some little parley Brunnotte.came up, when they threw prisoner on the ground. The constable then arrived, and made the arrest.

Witness then corroborated the statement of the officer as to finding the wine, &c. Witness had no doubt the bottles had been capsuled at his place. He was selling similar goods every day, but those sold were always labelled while these were not. Cross-examined—He could not say that these bottles had not been labelled and the labels washed off. While prisoner was on the ground after his capture, in answer to a question from witness, he said he found a door open and had gone in. Witness had not lost sight of the prisoner in the chase. The night was rather dark. There was money in a desk in the office ; it had not been disturbed. Albert Edward Brunette corroborated Mr Longman’s statements as to when they were in company. He further stated that he returned to the house at about 7.10 p.m., he went inside and came out again ; looked the door and took away the key. There was nothing disturbed then. Afterwards he was walking with a young lady named Miss Manning. He heard cries of police, and found them to come from Mr Longman, who was then chasing the prisoner. Miss Manning gave witness the three keys produced. They did not belong to the house ; they were handed to the police. The labels referred to before have only been used for three or four weeks. There had been some wine sold in bottles without labels. The bottle of wine found in the kitchen had been taken from the stock in the store. After the arrest of the prisoner witness noticed that the desk in the office had been moved.

Henry Davenport gave evidence ; it was merely a repetition of that given by Mr Longman. Sarah Ann Manning deposed th at on the night of November 16bh she had been walking as stated by Mr Brunette. At Mr Longman’s request she went to the back door of his house. It was closed, and in the door a key, to which were attached two others. These keys were the three before referred to. She handed them to Mr Brunette.

Ellen Goddard, domestic servant at the Royal Oak boarding-house, deposed that prisoner for some time resided there, occupying a bedroom alone. On the night of the 16th inst. he went out at about 7.30 or 7.40; locking his door. She went into the room with Constable Wallace, and saw him find two bottles in prisoner’s coat. This was the evidence for the prosecution.

Mr Joyce addressed the Bench, and prisoner was committed to take his trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court at Christchurch. . Bail was allowed, the prisoner in £250 and two sureties in £l5O each.