POLICE COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5747, 30 August 1879, Page 3

POLICE COURT.

Friday, August 29. (Before Dr. Diver and P. Moeller, Esq.’s, J.P.’s.) DESERTION. James Sinclair was charged with unlawfully deserting from the ship Chaudiere. On the application of Mr. Gordon Allan, who appeared for the accused, the case was postponed. LABOENT. William Mathieaon was charged with having stolen twenty-two £1 notes ou the Ist August last, the property of Daniel McGregor. The prisoner, who pleaded not guilty, was defended by Mr. Fitzherbert. The prosecutor deposed that on the evening of the day in question he was sitting in the commercial room of Barrett’s Hotel, and had to open a satchel, in which he kept his money and other articles. Prisoner, who was not one of his friends, was sitting by him at the time. About midnight he went to bed, leaving his satchel hanging over the bed. He did not lock his door. Next morning,-on opening the satchel, he found the money was gone. Identified one of the notes found on prisoner as one of the notes he had lost.

The night watchman at the hotel deposed that prisoner had engaged a bed at Barrett’s on the night in question. His room was close to prosecutor’s. After ho had gone up to bed he came down again, and went out, saying he was going to get seme oysters. He returned in about an hour with another man, but neither of them stayed long. Robert Long, a barman, and Arthur Wilson, a billiard-marker, stated that on the night in question they had seen the prisoner in the Melbourne Hotel with a roll of notes. H. Cohen, pawnbroker, deposed to prisoner taking a watch out of pawn. The evidence was read over, after which prisoner was fully committed to take his trial at the criminal session of the Supreme Court. *Thomas Green, who pleaded guilty to two charges of petty larceny, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment. He was also sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, the same to run concurrently with the other. The Court then adjourned.