MAGISTRATES' COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 15, 17 January 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURT.

[Refore li. PotLocKand H. E. Ccrtis, Esqs . J.J.P.] Theodore Wilson and William Mercer were charged with stealing from the furniture store of John James the following articles.-— Two patent match boxes, fruit knife and fork, three table mats, one marble clock, two books, one dozen plated tea spoons, three knives and forks, three small spoons, twelve plated tea spoons, three knives aud forks, six small knives, four large table knives, five photograph slides, three pairs socks, one copy Cooper's novels, one pair tweed trousers, five silk handkerchiefs, one patent match box, one fancy work box, one necklace, one clock, one brass alarum clock, oucbrass clock, one clock, oue set table mats, one pair slippers, two table cloths, two silk pocket handkerchiefs, one gold brooch, the whole being of the value of £ii 18s. Mr Fell appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Pitt for the prisoners. A cartload of the goods alleged to have been stolen were produced in Court. Mr Fell having opened the case for the prosecution, called the following witnesses:— Detective Ede deposed: From information received I took out a search warrant on the 10th inst., and went to the house occupied by the prisoners, accompanied by Sergt. Slattery and James. The house was shut up and I left the Sergeant in charge and went back to town in search of the prisoners. I returned about 4 p.m. and found they had returned. James arrived about five, and on his arrival I sent Mercer out with the Sergeant, having told him that he was suspected of' havin" j stolen some of James' property. 1 read the warrant to Wilson, who said he had nothing belonging to James. We then went from the kitchen to a shed, where were a number of chairs. Wilson said he got these from Hokitika. There were two wiudow poles and rings which he said were Mercer's. In a box we found a red silk handkerchief which James identified. This he said he picked up • in James' shop. We then found some patent taatch boxjsi and afterwards in the house a ftj&^ i^* ad fork, and other articles which 'identified, and Wilson said he hsd Brought from home. The marble clock produced was found on a high shelf in the workshop. Several other things were found, about whicb Wilson was questioned. I then called Mercer in, and he said that nearly all the things in the house were his aud Wilson's private property. I charged him, in connection with Wilson, of stealing the goods. He hung down his head, and made no reply. I then went into the kitchen and charged Wilson. He said, "I am very sorry, but it's too late now." On Saturday morning Mercer called to me and asked to see James. I called James, who was at the station at the time. Mercer began to cry, and said he was very sorry, and hoped' he Would not be j&ard on him. He

went on to say, " If you look under the oven of our house you will find some knives and forks belonging to you, which I threw there yesterday on seeing the Sergeant of Police, when I suspected something was wrong, so I threw them under the oven out of sight." Ho also said, ••' you will find a round table and green iron bedstead at Mrs Gardiner's, whicli belong to you." When I searched him on Fn'day, I fouud a patent match-box in his pocket, which he said Wilson gave him. On the same day, I found on Wiison the whistle produced, which he said he took from James' shop. On Saturday I went to the house of Airs Hoy, Mercer's sister. She gave me tho tea spoons produced. I then went to Mrs Gardiner's. She gave me the knives, forks, and spoons produced. On going to the prisoners' house,! found under the oven a lot of things (produced). On the 13th I went there agaiu and found some more things. On the 14th I wenfc to Mr ScaitVs and saw his servant, who gave me the work box and ueckLice produced. I again went to prisoner's house, and found between the lining and the wall seven packages of spoons, forks, and knives, and a lot of other articles (produced). Kergt. Slattery gave evidence corroborative of Detective Ede's with reference to the arrest. John James stated that he retui ned from Auckland on the 10th inst, found the two prisoners absent from their work, and went to their bouse aud searched it. He then desbribed in detail tbe finding of the articles, all of which he identified. Edward Cator, a cabinet maker in the employ of Mr James, stated that two or three months ago he knew thafc Wilson had in his possession 23 knives, the property of Mr James. Wilsou had asked him to get another for him to make up the two dozen. Wilson bad also offered to give him a pair of slippers (produced) which he knew were Mr James', ile had refused to take them. The evidence of Ellen Kruse, Florence Hoy, and Etnma Gardiner having been taken, tbe prisoners were committed for trial afc the next sittings of the District Court. Bail was allowed, each prisoner in £100, aud two surities for each in £50 each.