MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 332, 17 May 1877, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

«> THIS DAY. (Do.'ore T. W. Parkes, Esq., T..M.) DP.tJXIC AND DISORDERLY. Robert Blnnetfc, charged with being drunk and disorderly, was dismissed with a caution. LARCENY. William John Craig, boardmghousekoeper, charged on t:ie information of Sub-Inspector Smith with having, on the 12th May, stolen from the person of one John Brown a pocket-book containing four L2O-notes, ten LlO-notes, and two Lu-notes, all on the Bank of I\cw Zealand : one Ll-nofe (bank unknown) ; two photographs of females : two orders on James Finch, farmer, Hampden, one for LIOO and one for LSO, all the property of tTfe said John E>rown. Mr. Hi slop appeared for the prosecution, and 2.1 V. O'Meagher for the defence. The prosecutor, John Brown, depos id : lam a laborer. On Saturday last, about half-past two o'clock. I went- to Craig's bonrdiu'-c-house. I had them in my pocket-book—four £2O-nores, two £lO-' notes, and two £5-notes. I am not certain whether I had a single none, or_ not. I had the money iu a pocket in my inner breast-pocket, on my right side. A man named John Lactic went into Craig's with me. We bad some drinks wium we went in. Mrs. Craig serv=d us. and I paid for them. I pulled out my pocket-book to do so. After that I laid down on the sofa a.nd went to sleep. When I awoke th-rc was a scuffle going on in the room. Thorj were two young fellows in the room, and I saw'.'jitt'e and Mrs. Craig were there. Craig came in afterwards. When I aw. ko 1 found my waistcoat unbuttoned, and my pocket-book gone, i sai-1, '•! have 1-st everything, pocketbook and a!!." Prisoner said, '• You have not lost it iu the house." I answered. ' : 1 have not been out of the house." I ii.foimv.il the police Ktwecn 7 and 8 o'clock thai cvenhie;. I have not seen the packet-book or i.ion .-y f imx-.__ I think the j notes were on the Bank of iNew Z-aland, but 1 r,ni not sure. I had been paid bv my employer, Mr. James Finc'.i, of Hampden about the 3rd er -1-th April. ! Cross-examined by 3b: O'iUeaghcr : I do not Imow where prisoner wars when i wei>o into the house. I did not seejuni uuill I woke during the scufilo. i do not know what moiiyy I paid Mrs. Craig with. I carry loose silver iu my trousers poehct. I was at the before I went to Crahr's. I had two glasses of heir there. John Little is a ploughman. I was in bis company that day about six or seven hours. "lie has been working for | Mr. Tesehemaker. I have known him a ! good' manv Years. I was in no other ! ho:e! but tho Northern that day. I board i with Bill Lament. Little never saw the I money. Ke was sitting in the room at I Craighs when I pulled out the pockst-book. ! but "not near me. Ido not know where ! the two young men were at this time. ! When 1 pulled out the pocket-book, I | cannot swear whether I took anything | out of it. Mrs. Craig was at one 1 side of the room, and I was at j the other. When I -fulled out the I pocket book. She was sitting at the same I pdaee when I put it back in my pocket. ! I did not see Mrs. Craig when I awoke | during the scufile. Prisoner came in after i it commenced. The room is a pretty large one. i had nothing to drink bef:re 1 went to the Northern Hotel. ± tnink I. drank : brandy at prisoner's place. Mrs. Craig brought it to Little and myself. 1 will . j not swear whether I pulled out the pocket- . book before she brought the brandy or

afterwards. After I had drunk it I went to sleep. lam G7 years of age. When I feel tired I sometimes take a nap about the middle of the day. I have not seen anything of my money since then. 1 had some conversation with Sub - inspector Smith on Monday, after the arrest of prisoner. He told me he had got some money from prisoner. I understood him tosay that the notes were on the Bank of iNew Zealand. Pie showed me two £2O notes, but clid not tell me where he got them from. I went with a policeman on Saturday evening to prisoner's house. Prisoner did not askme whether I accused his wife of stealing the money. The policeman remained in the house about ten minutes. Re-examined : I had some silver when I awoke in Craig's. It was in my trousers pocket. I do not know the amount, as I did not count it.

To His Worship : I went to sleep after taking this glass of brandy at Craig's. I do not know whether I had any more drinks there or not. [Left sitting.]