RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Kumara Times, Issue 2113, 7 June 1883, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Thursday, June 7. [Before A. C. Campbell, Esq., and W. Barnett, Esq., J.Ps.] Walter Williams was charged that on the 3rd day of June at Kumara, he did, by means of false and fraudulent pretences, obtain from one Patrick Curtin and Joseph Stanton a purse containing a gold ring, a key, and a supposed £1 note, of the value, excluding the £1 note, of £2, of the goods and chattels of one John Lord, of Kumara, aforesaid, and which recited property the said John Lord did lose, and the said Patrick Curtin and Joseph Stanton did find, the said Walter Williams well knowing the said property was none of his. Prisoner pleaded " Not guilty—not guilty of stealing." Sergeant Russell conducted the prosecution, and briefly stated the case. The first witness he called was Patrick Curtin, a youth of 13, who stated he knew the nature of an oath, and, on being sworn, said : I am a milk-boy, residing in Westbrook. I was in Kumara last Sunday morning, under Mogdridge's verandah. I picked up a purse there which I opened. It contained a gold ring, a key, and a piece of paper, which appeared to be a £1 note. I saw the prisoner on the other side of the road ; he called out " Half shares in that!" He crossed the street towards me. He took the purse out of my hands, saying it was his purse. I did not give the prisoner the purse ; he snatched it out of may hands. I saw the prisoner again on Tuesday morning, and told him I had found an owner down the street. He said the purse was his, and he had been looking for it all the morning. The purse produced, the ring, and the key are those I found. In answer to prisoner : You did not ask me what was in the purse. I did not hand you the purse to see what was in it; you snatched it out of my hand. You said the first shilling you got you would give it to me. When I went to get it from you on Tuesday, you did not tell me the owner could have it by telling you what was in it. By the Court: Prisoner called out " Halves !" He snatched the purse from me. Joseph Stanton, a boy of 15, being sworn, said : I reside in Westbrook. I saw the purse picked up by Curtin. I saw him open it. There was a ring in it, a key, and a piece of paper which looked like a money note. While we vvei'e examining the purse the prisoner came from the other side of the road, and said " Half shares !" and took it out of my hand. He then claimed the purse as his, I said he ought to give us a shilling for finding it. I saw the prisoner again on Tuesday, and, in company with Patrick Curtin asked him for the .purse, as I knew of an owner down the street. Prisoner said it was his purse. In answer to prisoner : I remember Sunday morning. Patrick Curtin picked up the purse. We looked into the purse ; there was a key and a ring in it, and what looked like a £1 note. You did not say you might find an owner for it. You did not say that if you found an owner he might give us a shilling. You said the purse was yours. By the Court : Prisoner did not say the owner could have the purse if he could tell what was in it. He said the purse was his. John Lord, being sworn, said : I am a carpenter, residing in Seddon street, Kumara. I was in Kumara last Saturday night. I lost a purse that night. The purse produced, and the ring and key which were in it are mine; the value of the ring is £2 ; I estimate the value of the contents altogether at £3. Upon being asked if he had anything to say, prisoner said : Sergeant Russell asked me if I had the purse, and I gave it to him. I take my oath there was nothiug more in it than there is now. Sergeant Russell, sworn, said : Prisoner admitted having the purse, with gold ring, key, and a piece of paper in it. When I asked him where the piece of paper was, he replied that he did not know.

Constable Nash, sworn, said: I know the prisoner as a low drunken loafer, associating with all the bad women in the town. The Bench adjourned the Court for five minutes, and on reopening addressed the prisoner as follows : This case has been clearly proved against you. The Bench has come to the conclusion that it was your intention to have retained the property. The sentence is that you be committed for one month to Hokitika Gaol with hard labour.