RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 38, 13 February 1877, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THIS DAY. [Before L. Broad, Esq., R.M.] larceny. Alfred Fond, a stranger in Nelson, was charged with stealing money in a dwelling this morning. Margaret Sinclair said: I am a housemaid in the employ of Mr M'Kenzie, at the Albion Hotel. In company with the other servant I occupy a bedroom upstairs. I have a box there in which I last night placed the purse now produced with the money therein, viz., five £1 notes, four half-sovereigns, twelve shillings in silver, and sixpence in coppers. The other servant and myself left the bedroom at six o'clock this morning. Being, sent for upstairs at a quarter past six I examined my box, and found my purse was gone. M'Kenzie was in the passage with the prisoner, aud the latter delivered up the money now produced, and said to M'Kenzie, "For God's sake say no more about it, and I'll give the money back." M'Kenzie then sent me for a constable. Prisoner slept at M'Kenzie's house last night. His bedroom was not far from mine. I left my bedroom door open when I went downstairs. My box was left shut. The other servant went down before me. Edward A. M'Kenzie: Prisoner has slept at my house for the last two nights. He would not pass the servants' bedroom in coming down from his own .room. Shortly after six this morniog my wife called ray attention to some one beiug upstairs in the servants' room walking about barefooted. Seeing that both the servants were downstairs, I went up in my slippers, and found the prisoner in che servants' room. I said, " Yon scamp, what are you doing here, this is not your room." I took him by the shoulder and led him into the verandah, and called the servants up to see if anything was missing. Margaret Sinclair went to her room, and on her return said that her purse was missing. Prisoner then produced the purse and said, " For God's sake M'Kenzie let me go,and I'll never do the like again." I said, No, I would make an example of him. He then went down on his knees and cried, and asked me to forgive him, and I said No, that if I did he would be doing the same again. I then sent for Constable Beattie, and gave him in charge. Constable Beattie deposed to taking the prisoner into custody, which closed the case for the prosecution. His Worship said that as the prisoner had only been charged with simple larceny he was empowered by the Justices of the Peace Act to deal with the case summarily if the prisoner voluntarily confessed his guilt, but if not it would have to go to the Supreme Court. The prisoner asserted his innocence, and after being cautioned in the usual manner went on to say—" I went into the room to see if the Wellington was coming in. I saw the box there open with a purse lying on the top. I picked it up, and before I could put it down again M'Kenzie came in and seized me by the neck and said, ' You dog, I'll teach you to come into my servants' room.' He then up with his fist and hit me as hard as he could, and ran me out into the verandah. I said, « Here, Mr M'Kenzie, is a purse I just picked up.' He said, ' You thief,' and then called the servants and told them to see if they had lost anything. One went out and then returned and said she had lost her purse. Then M'Kenzie said 5 This dog stole it/ and he said he would give me in charge. I asked him to forgive me for going into the room at all, but he said he would not." Prisoner was then committed for trial.