COUNTY COURT.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 44, 30 December 1842, Page 2

COUNTY COURT.

Tuesday, December 20, 1842. Before His Honor E. S. Halswell. (Criminal side). Charles Rawley, aged 40, and John Coughlan, were indicted for stealing two blankets, the property of James Taylor. James Taylor —l am a baker; I reside on Lambton Quay ; X know the prisoner by sight; I missed 1 a-pair of blankets ; the blankets produced are my property; I saw them safe about 8 o'clock on Thursday the Bth ; I missed them when I went to bed about 11 o'clock the same evening ; I saw them next day in the possession of the constable. Cross-examined by Rowley—l don't know much of you; I know you work hard: I cannot say whether you would have taken my blankets if you had been sober.

Re-examined by the Jury—l know my blankets from their being burnt in the fire, and there being a nap on one side only; I have no other mark; I have used them every day; I know them by the holes; I could not exactly swear; there might have been others burnt the same, but it is not likely. Alexander LyaU —l am a butcher on Lambton Quay; I know the prisoners; I remember seeing them on the night of the Bth; I saw the prisoner Coughlan in a privy at the back of Young’s public house : he asked if I had seen Charlie Rowley ; I said, there he goes ; I saw he was carrying something under his arm ; I went to Taylor’s bakehouse, and found the door open, and no one inside; this was about 11 o’clock at night; I saw the prisoner Coughlan run after the prisoner Rowley. Cross-examined, by Coughlan —Was in the necessary with my clothes down; asked if Rowley had been seen; Rowley soon after passed. Re-examined by the Jury—When I saw the prisoner running, I am of opinion he would not see me.

sawyer; I live at the back of Bolton street, near the burial ground; I know the prisoner Rowley by sight; he came into my house about 7or 8 o’clock on Friday morning, the 9th, and asked me to let him lie down; he had something under his arm ; he laid down on an empty bedstead ; and did not get up until the constable came in; the bundle under his arm, he threw on the bedstead. Cross-examined by the prisoner'Coughlan— I never saw you. James Futter—l am a constable of Wellington ; I know the prisoners; in consequence of information I received, I went in search of the prisoner Rowley, and found him at Mrs. Barker's ; he appeared to be then just getting up ; he was standing near the fire-place; I found two blankets lying on a bedstead; there were two other bedsteads with clothes on them; there was nothing else on the bedstead besides these blankets; the blankets produced are the same I found ; I marked them; I took the prisoner into custody, and gave the blankets to Mr. Floyd, the gaoler. Cross-examined by Coughlan—l apprehended Coughlan about half a mile from the place I took Rowley, about an hour afterwards. Cross-examined by the Jury—He did not make any statement as to the property of the blankets. By the Court—Hhe was perfectly sober. R. R. Strang —l am clerk to the Police Magistrate ; the deposition produced was made by Rowley, in which he states he was drunk when he took the blankets ; he was cautioned when he made the statement. Mrs. Barker was recalled—The prisoner was not drunk when he came ; he had been little more than an hour in my house. The prisoner Rowley in defence called John Lloyd —l am a baker, and live on Lambton Quay; I know the prisoner Rowley ; on two different occasions he was in my employ ; I have known him three or four months; I have always found him a very honest man; he will drink.; I saw him on the night of the Bth; he was very tipsy; whenever he has taken bread out, he has brought back the money honestly. James Taylor recalled—The blankets are used to cover over the bread : the marks on them are from the dough, which fall on them in the course of business. The Jury returned a verdict of not guilty against John Coughlan; but found the prisoner Rowley guilty, strongly recommending him to to mercy on account of his previous character. Sentence—Two calendar months’ imprisonment, and hard labor.