RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 694, 2 July 1859, Page 6

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Cheistchuech, June 21.

(Before John Hall Esq., R.M.) LAKCENT.

Samuel Pring, formerly in the employ of Mr, H. E. Alport, of Christchurch, appeared to a summons to answer to a charge of larceny.

The first witness.who gave evidence against the accused was John Gordon, who deposed as follows; —I am a butcher residing in Christchuvch. On Saturday morning last, as I was looking under my house for a dog, after moving some rubbish, I found a brown paper parcel, which upon opening I found to contain a pair of "Wellington boots and a punch. I identify the one now produced as the one which I found. I gave information to the police, and the sergeant came up to my house. I believe the accused had the house before me. I took possession myself of the house last Wednesday.

Herbert Edward Alporfc deposed as follows :— Accused was in my employ from June, 1857, to April, 1859, as storekeeper and salesman. In May, 1858,1 received forty-three pairs of boots similar to those now produced. I can swear to the pair in questioiv as having formed part of that stock. I never gave, or at any time sold or allowed aqcused 'to take a pair of boots of this description out of my shop without my knowledge. During the time the accused was in my employ, I had punches of the particular make of, the one now produced; I ■never gave accused any work to do. that would necessitate his carrying away such a tool. The paper, in which the -articles are wrapped I can also [".identify'by the hand writing upon it; it covered ! 'spine-: headstall-bridles that came into my store in ' "Octofter, 1858. .

By the Court: The stock of these boots was so large;that I should not have missed a single pair. The Police Sergeant also deposed to having served accused with a copy of the summons upon which he had now appeared, and said that accused stated at that time that he had put a pair of boots under the house, that they had belonged .to himself, and he had forgotten to take them away^

The depositions ■ having then been read over in the hearing of the accused^ and after the customary caution, he made a statement to the effect that he took the boots away from the'store for the purpose of trying them on his own feet. He had put them under the house as the house was locked, his brother and his wife who were living with him being out at the time, and that he had forgotten to take them away;. as for the punch, he could not account for its being there unless accidentally done up in the pavcel.with the boots

At the request'of the accused, Mr. Alportwas re-examined, and bore testimony to the good character he had borne while in his service. Witness also stated that he had had unlimited belief in the honesty of; the accused, and that he had had free access to his (witness's) cash box at all times, that he had never any reason to suspect that he had been defrauded. -..'..

The Court stated that, with the evidence before them, they had no other alternative but to commit accused to take his trial, but they would take [bail —the accused himself in £160, and two approved sureties in £80 each for his appearance at the next sitting of the Supreme Court,

Wednesday, June 22. (Before John Hall, Esq., R.M.) JUVENILE DELINQUENCIES.

Henry Gardiner, a boy of 12 years of age, was brought up by the sergeant, and charged with stealing a meerschaum pipe,among other articles, from the shop of Mr. Tompkins, the hair-dresser, in Colombo-street.

Sergeant Price produced several meerschaum pipes, which were identified by Mr. Thompkiifa. as forming a portionof some he had for sale. One particular pipe ho could swear to as having been in his shop about 3 o'clock yesterday aftornoon. This pipe was missed by witness along with several other's, about 9 this morning. Witness also stated that prisoner was in his shop three different times yesterday afternoon. The nest witness, William Ambrose Ford, was a small boy younger than prisoner, who with others had been "playing with prisoner, that afternoon. near Mr. TompkinV shop. This witness proved that prisoner went into the shop, stating lie^vas going to buy a comb, and went in a second time, and upon his return the second time gave witness tho pipe now produced, telling him to take cave of it for him and he would givo him another. ","" ness stated prisoner gave him a. second pipe «''llC" his brother had got. Sergeant price .applied for a remand in order jo obtain further evidence; the prisoner was accord" ingly remanded to nest day.

Thtjksday, June 23. Prisoner wns brought upon remand this da}. befove John lls.ll. Esq., E. M.' Tho evidence 'this day was that of the poH<* sergeant, who stilted tho following facts. *r^ information I received referring to the stealing?" a Meerschaum pipe. I proceeded to the servants hall at the Union Bank of Australia. Upn ««i enquiries prisoner was called in, and I tola nim *