LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 32, 1 March 1879, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, Friday, 8 p.m. In the Police Court to-day, Maria Thomas, a girl aged about 17, was charged with stealing a Geneva watch, the property of Thomas Roberts, watchmaker, at Palmerston North, on the 2L9t inst. Thomas Roberls, watchmaker, of Palmerston North, deposed that prisoner had Leen his housekeeper. She left for Wellington on the 21st ; he rr.iseed the watch on the following day. He had the number of the watch m his book, but did not have the book with him. He next saw the watch m the prisoner's box, at the Hutt. He asked her if she intended going back to Palraerston ; she said no. He asked her to marry him and she refused point-blank. Ho then told her ho would have her given m charge for stealing a watch. In his cross-examination by Mr. Buckley the prosecutor stated that the watch belonged to a customer of his, but could not remember the name. Accused told him when leaving that she was. going to Wellington. She did not put the watch into her pocket when leaviug. On the first night she was m his house he had slept wi!h accused, and every night afterwards till she left. He wanted to marry her, and the marriage lines were now m the house. He gave her only 4s. 6d. when she was leaving him. Constable Lyster deposed that when he arrested accused she was wearing the watch, and made no attempt to conceal it. Prosecutor told witness that lie wanted to marry the accused, Mr. Buckley submitted that the watch had been given to accused by prosecutor. The prosecutor had reduced the young girl ; she had left him and he had followed her to Wellington with the intention of getting her to marry him. Because she refused to marry him he had given her m charge for stealing. The magistrate 6aid the criminal law should never have been put m motion inJ;hi3 case. Prosecutor had evidently acted out of revsnge because the girl refused to mavry him. He would order accused to be dismissed. Blenheim, Friday, 8 p.m. A terrible fire broke out this morning m Market street ; and raged furiously for several hours. Had there been any wind the greater part of the town would have gone. The following places were burned : — Healy, bootmaker ; Scott, confectioner ; Jenssen, barber ; Presswood, watchmaker ; Griffiths, auctioneer ; Hobson, stationeer ; Hom-3 and Creghorn, chemists"; Gillyman, butcher; Quin, watchmaker: Mackey, photographer ; Collier, stationer; O'Sullivan, commission agent j M'Nally, barrister.