KM. COURT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 226, 21 August 1884, Page 2

KM. COURT.

THIS DAY.

(Before JR. Ward, Esq., R.M.) OHIMNET ON FIRE. , Constable Manning charged Mm-, self with allowing his chimney to get. on fire and was fined ss. LARCENY. ... ....'., Joseph Jessop pleaded not guilty to stealing a brass range cock from Mr Snelson's auction rooms on the 4th August. Mr Baker defended accused. A. McMinn junr., gave evidence to effect he was m Mr Snelson'a auction room about a week and a half ago with hi 8 father and Mr Snelson, saw Jessop take a brass tap off a windowsill and pocket it. Told his father of the occurrence on the following morning. Tap produced and recognized by witness. . ... 1 I- :. Cross examined by Mr Baker. Alex. McMinn, sen., also, gate evidence. Watt m the auction room about three weeks ago with his son. Same evening or next morning his son told him something m consequence of which he communicated with Mr Snelson who searched his premises m his presence. • '• •'• . »i ij J Cross«examined by Mr Baker. : ; Saw some other taps, m auction room. By Bench. The communication.;, made to him by hia.aoii was m reference to a brass tap. ' G. M. Snelson, auctioneer. Know* abcused, remembered seeing him m auction room on August" 4th. Saw* the witness A. McMinn, jun., with his father there and other persons. ! The following day Mr McMinn, came and asked him if he had missed a .tap. He said no. but on searching found he had ono less. (Tap produced and recognized by witness. The tap was the make of one particular foundry m Birmingham. v\ ; Got them ftoin'X W. Mills about three months ago. ■*' -A i An advertisement .was put m paper asking the pei*son who took the 4p to return it. In- consequence of several articles having been abstracted from auction room he determined' \ to put a stop to the thing if possible, and communicated with the constable. He laid an information subsequently-. Witness reoognized other tap ( prQr/: duced as being the same kind! A. 1 ~ key produced fitting the tap which was taken was also recognised, and witness stated he picked this key up m his room 1 after being informed of the occurrence. His reasons for being r anxious to discover tie guilty "party" was that he had reason to suspect others, and was anxious not to wrongly suspect any persons. i The magistrate here examined thavarious taps produced. Never authorised anyone to deal with the taps m any way. Cross-examined. Did not keep; a stock bfcok; every- ' thing coming to ray room is entered m a receiving book; Knew- a month ago how many taps I had m my room. Could not sell a tap. without having a note of it. [Couusel here requested witness to have taps m stock produced.] ■ ; , : . -. Saw accused about some cement; and grass seed. „—>.-.;'■ j Do not remember having sold hinges to accused. . , ' At the conclusion of the evidence^ " the remainder of which will appear m" to-morrow's issue, the Bencti found I the evidence produced to be very conflicting and could not do' 'otherwise than dismiss the charge, without pro- „ judice. The Court would not" mafia any order as to costs, as it is believed, there were grounds fdr the ; prbawia* 1 don. The tap is to be retained by 'the' Constable, and if he could pvoduce further evidence might bring the' case 1 on again.