RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4483, 2 August 1875, Page 5

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Saturday, July 31. (Before J. C. Crawford, Esq., R.M.) DRUNKENNESS.

Donald Lynch and Peter Maguire were convicted of the above offence, and disposed of in the usual manner. LARCENY.

John Burns and Augustus Yelverton were charged with stealing a watch, value £3, from the person of Sheridan. Both prisoners pleaded ignorance of the offence; they had been drinking, but knew nothing of the watch. Witnesses were examined, and from their evidence it appeared that Yelverton (accompanied by Bums) had met prosecutor in the Btreet, and on his pulling out his watch m obedience to a request for the time of day, Yelverton snatched it from his hand, and both prisoners made off. They were arrested, both being drunk. The record of previous convictions showed these men to have been very old offenders. His Worship sentenced both prisoners to six calendar months' imprisonment, with hard labor. ■

BREACH OP MASTERS AND APPRENTICES ACT. Frederick George was brought up on remand, charged with having committed a breach of the Masters and Apprentices Act, by running away from his master. , The prosecutor, Mr. Evans, said he had seen the boy's father, and it appeared that he was willing to return. He would not, therefore, push the charge, but for the information of his other apprentices, and apprentices generally, he requested the Bench to tell the defendant what he was liable to. HisWorshipdismissedthedefendant, caution- i ing him that he had rendered himself liable to I imprisonment. HORSE STEALING. George Moffitt was charged that he did feloniously steal, take, and carry away one horse and one saddle and bridle, the property of William Prouse. ~,,., William Prouse deposed that he had taken his horse to the Hutt on the 29th inst., and had tied it up in a shed, from which it broke loose. He failed to discover where it had gone, and the next he saw or heard of the horse was at Lowry Bay, it being in the possession of the police. William Brown deposed that he kept a house of accommodation at Oakley. Prisoner came there with a horse, saddle and bridle, on the night of the 29th. Tho horse was given a feed, and prisoner slept tho night in the house. Next morning it was found that the horse had jumped the fence, and witness, believing the horse to belong to defendant (who said he had kept it in Riddiford's paddock for three weeks), gave him another horae to go in search of it.

Constable Stewart (in charge of the Hutt), deposed to arresting the prisoner. He also stated that he could produce a witness who saw prisoner take the horse and saddle. His Worship remanded the prisoner till Tuesday, for the production of the witness referred to by Constable Stewart.