MAGISTRATES' COURT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8345, 4 February 1913, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURT

MONDAY. FEBIU'AUY 3. Mr tW 0. Riddell, fe.M.) THEFT, John James Cottorill pleaded not to a cuarge ol stealing oil Friday last, a watch valued at 7s Cel, a watch valued at 91)s f and a sold mounted ribbon guard ol the value of lbs. the projierty of John Cross Atkinson, Atkinson, who is a painter by trade, said he was working on the Arahura on Fndav. and knocked off at halfpast C p’iii. When ho started in the morning the two watches and the chain guard were in his vest pocket. He missed the property, which lie last saw at a quarter to 1 p.m., shortly after he left the vessel. Detective Bailey slated that accused, when interviewed regarding the matter, said he did not know how the articles came to be in his vest pockets, where he found them. He had hot reported the matter to anyone. Detective Abbott stated that he saw Oottcrill on board the Arahura about a quarter to 9 on Fridaj 7 night, when making inquiries respecting a lire on the ship. Accused When asked what time lie returned to the vessel that night took out a, watch, similar to one produced (a double-faced one), and said “twenty minutes to 8.” Accused in the witness-box said that he had been out from Home for a little over a year. When changing his clothes on Saturday, the chain fell out of one of the pockets. The two watches were in the vest pockets, one in each. He thought that somebody had put them there in order to play a trick on him. Ho had not informed anybody of the fact. The watch he looked at when speaking, to Detective Abbott was single-faced. To Chief-Detertive’ Broborg: Ho did not tell Detective Bailey that Detective Abbott had put the articles in his puckbt so as to “got one on to him.” His Worship held that accused must be convicted. Chief-Detective Broberg asked that Oottcrill be not sentenced until Friday, as sonic pawn tickets had been found in the mail’s possession, and he (the chief-detective) wanted to ascertain whether the articles which they represented had been stolen. , The remand was granted. BAD LANGUAGE. John Smith was fined £3,. in default fourteen days on a charge of using obscene language. MAINTENANCE. Leonard O’FJalierty was ordered to pay 3s aiid Claude O’Flaherty 6s towards the support of their brother in the Stoke Otr- '-'nigo.