MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 639, 22 February 1870, Page 2

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21.

Larceny. — John Robertson wascharged with larceny of monies to the amount of L 8 2s. — Thomas Harrison deposed : I am a laborer and live at the United States. Hotel, Gresson street. On Sunday night, along with the prisoner and others, I had been tossing at "Yankee Grab" for drinks. When I left the room and went into my bedroom the prisoner followed me, and wanted me to toss for a bottle of brandy. I refused, and went out of the room. I left the prisoner there, but he followed me. Before leaving 1 took out my purse from my pocket and wrapped it in a black silk handkerchief and threw it on the bed, leaving it there. I was away about a quarter of an hour; when I went bae'e the. purse was gone. There was one L 5 note, three LI notes, and 2s in silver in it. The prisoner was standing alongside of me when I threw the purse on the bed. Any other person could have entered the room in my absence. The prisoner and his mate were in the adjoining room when I returned. I told him I had lost my money. I did not describe the monies to him, nor tell him I knew the number of the L 5 note. The prisoner was searched in the room adjoining mine. He had money, because he changed a note to pay for drink before he went to bed. Harriet Ogden deposed : I am the landlady of the United States Hotel. The prosecutor is one of my lodgers. He and the prisoner both slept at my house last night. I have always known the prisoner to be a most respectable man. The prosecutor in the night time called out to the that he had been robbed. He was very excited. I said I would get up and see about it. At that time Harrison did not accuse the prisoner. I asked him whom he did accuse. He said there was nobody but the prisoner in his room, and he must be the man. I asked Robertson, who was lying on his bed, to let me search him. He said he would have no objectious to being searched by the police. I said — "Let us have the thing done quietly. I'll do it." He agreed to this. In one pocket I found three LI notes, two sovereigns, and in- another pocket I found aLS note, and about 16s in silver. The prosecutor was then in his own room looking for the money. I saw the L 5 note in prisoner's possession. He said it was money he had kept back to pay the baker. The rest was for spending. The prisoner never left his bedroom from the time he was searched until he was apprehended. When the prosecutor lost the last drinks he only paid me Is, saying he had no more silver, and that he would pay me in the morning. Any person in the house could have entered the prosecutor's room if his door was not locked. I was not present when he was searched by the constable. John Keating deposed : The prosecutor came to me about 2 o'clock this morning, saying "Are you a constable — I want you. I have been robbed. There is a man in che United States hotel who has robbed me." I asked him how he knew that. He said there was nobody else in the room but the man. The money was three LI notes, one L 5 note, and some silver. He told me he could recognise the Lo note as he knew the number. He said he had told the man this also. He pointed out the prisoner, who was sitting on his bed dressed as the man. I searched the prisoner and found three LI notes, two sovereigns, one half sovereign, one 5s piece and 2s 6d. I did not find aLS note. On leaving the room Mrs Ogden told me she had seen him have a L 5 note a few minutes before. I went back to search him again. He asked me what for. I told him aLS note. He said I was a b y liar. I then searched him and his mate without success. . I afterwards searched him at the Camp, but did not find the. note. I also searched the room before taking liiin to the Camp. The prn soner positively denied ever, having a L 6 note. The prisoner made an explanation, and was committed to take his trial at the iies;t sitting of the District Court.