Justices Court.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 23 May 1890, Page 2

Justices Court.

(Pefore J. W. Uower. and T. Wilaon, J.PaJ. Friday 28ih. May. Criminal. W. J. Lawrence was charged that he did on the 21at day of Maj, 1890, feloniously steal, take, and carry away four panes of glass and one smoothing-plane, altogether of the value of 12s, of the goods and chattels of one Alexander Speirs. Mr Ray appeared for the accused. The accused pleaded " not guilty." Or. A. Tapp said that the goods stolen were taken from Mr Speirs workshop in Main street. The accused knew where the tools and glass were. Alexander Speirs, being sworu, said he had a shop in Main street. The accmed was in the shop last Friday as I was glazing sashes, he gave me, & hand at it. The aocused left the .shop same time as I did. I last saw the goods' on Tuesday at moon. I missed the goods on Wednesday afternoon. I value the glass at 8/-. I lost a smoothing plane. . plane is worth 4/-. I indentify it by stains. I never authorised any one to take g ass or plane out of ruy place. A coined had a contract from me to paint a house lam building. The front door of shop is locked with a bolt, the side door with a bar. By Mr Ray — I saw accused on Wednesday. If he had told me of taking the . goods I should not havo been satisfied with payment for them. I told him ,-ome one had broken into my shop and he said " I wished I had told you I had taken it." B the Court— l suspect the accuuee of breaking the remainder of the glass in the box. John W. Liddell, being sworn said— I remember last Tuesday evening at 5 o'clock I was in Whyte's hotel. There were B. Spelman, Thompson and myself in company. The accused cain=- in with a plane in his hand and asked me what it was worth. He said it had cost him 2/- he offered it for sale, he did not sell it. He tossed for the plarie, with a shilling down. He won the toss, and I lost the. shilling. The plan* produced is one like what he had. By Mr Ray.— He appeared to be perfectly sober. Thompson, being sworn, said he was a carpenter, ; ast Tuesday I saw accused behind the Public Hall cutting glass fo repair wi d )W3 of the hall. H' had two la g sheets and smaller' ones cm. I bought two sheets off him for 3/6, I took it to the shop and the constable got it. I can swear to one oi the sheets produced. I sa ■ accused in the evening in Whyte's hotel. He had a plane which he wanted 1/- for .1 said I would put 1/- down against it. • A mitrbl*- was given to each of us, and the highest took it. I won it eventually I took it and put my name on it. lbe oue produced is the plane. By the Court j I bought •he glass as he was cutting ap the large sheets into small squares and I told |him 1 had some that woi I suit him. I understood that he brought the glass from his home. By Mr Kay— He did not go to my plaoe to geljthe same glass. We went to Whyte's together, I left acouaed there. A. Speirs recalled by the Court. I did not give accused the job to inenA the windows at the hall. G. A. Tapp, being sworu said, I arrested accused vb»terday at 1 o'clock. He said I took the' glass, I have a j b to mend the windows at the Hall for Levers, I did not think to tell Speirs. I Wok the plane on

purpose to plane up eoine picture frames and I had it at Stansell's hotel and I lost it. He Baid some of the glass was inside the Hell, he then pullad cut these two pieces two small panes from under the hall. By the Court— l got the big sheets aad plane from Thompson, the last witness. The accused was sober wh»n I arrested him. By Mr Pay— l know accused, he bti a wife and family. By the Court — I have received complaints about the man having taken things before. Mr Ray aaid that it was sad to have a resident brought before the bench on such a charge. His being locked up all night is a matter to be considered. I ask that it be treated as a trivial case and discharged. He did go to Speirs soop »ad take tht ffltiLßS The Court ft«t«d the Constable if hi knew of any eoavietion. The Jourt taI tired to consider. Tbe Court oa appearing aenteneea tut accused to 1 oae month's imprisonment. Th« Bench was satisfied that lareenj had been committed, still, as there is no offence previously recorded, the Bench considered he might come under that Act, and be let out on probation. The Court,., after further consideration,, altered their decision to be : that they tonvicted and discharged the accused w™"" 1 * sentencing him under Clause 15 of " Tat First Offenders Probation Act, 1886." The constable asked that the prisoner be ordered to pay all oosts of prosecution.