RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 98, 16 March 1863, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Before J. Curling,Esq, R.M., Tarek a, X.A. THURSDAY, MARCH 12. THEFT BY A NATIVE. Awapuni, a native, was charged by Mr. F. Sutton with stealing a pair of trousers from his stores. F. Sutton deposed—This day, about 3 o'clock, I was at dinner, and the prisoner called for some things for Mr. Crowdiss—the engineer of Tareha’s mill. I asked him to wait till I had done dinner and I would' give them to him, About 2 minutes afterwards I came out but found that he was gone and Sergt. Noble, who was present in the shop, informed me that the prisoner had taken a parcel off some prints that were lying on the counter. I immediately ran out and saw him about Knowles’, on his way down the Shakespeare-road. I called on him to stop, but he said “ no—that I might put the things for which he came into the cart, as it was coming behind.” I still pursued him. He had a monkey jacket, on, buttoned up. On overtaking him I opened his monkey jacket, when I found the trowsers produced in court, inside, next his breast. I identify the trowsers as my property. I took them from him. He gave them up at once without making any remark, and went off. William Noble, sworn, —I am a serjeant in 14th regt., foot. I was present in Sutton's shop when the prisoner came in and got.close to the counter, where this pair of trowsers lay. I then saw him push them a little distance on, and put them undeer his jacket, and walked out of the shop. Ito Mr. Sutton, and told what the native had done, and Sir. Sutton went after him.

F. E. Hamlin, sworn, —I am Native Interpreter to the Civil Commissioner. About 3 o’clock this afternoon I went into Sutton’s shop. Mr. & Mrs. Sutton were looking out of the door. I asked them what was the matter, and Mr. Sutton informed me that a native had stolen a pair of trowsers. The prisoner was then coming up towards Mr. Sutton’s I went out with Mr. Sutton to meet him. Mr. Sutton accused him of having stolen the trowsers. He said he had not done it himself, but some other native had given them to him. I asked him who the native was, and where he came from ; he said he did not know, and persisted in saying so.

The prisoner hiDa-Ic ci confused stnlcmcnt and said they had been given to him by Sergeant Noble. The Bench retired, and after about a quarter of an hours’ absence, returned and allowed the prisoner the option of paying into Court the sum of <£3 125., being four times the value of the articles stolen, according to the provisions of clause 10 sec 3 of the Resident Magistrate’s Court Ordinanc, Sess. 7, No. 16. Tareha, who sat on the Bench, procured the sum for him, and he was ordered to be dismissed.