RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 425, 7 September 1877, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THIS DAY. (Before T. AV. Parker, Esq., R.Mf) STEATTKG A POTATOE FOEK. Jps. Troenian was charged with having, on or about the 21st May last, at Boundary Creek, stolen a potato fork, of the value of 7s. 6c1., the property of Charles Jackson and another. Sub-Insptctor Smith prosecuted. The prisoner pleaded Not guilty. Charles Jackson, labourer, residing at Papakaio, deposed that he knew the prisoner, who was in the paddock where he (witness) was digging up potatoes. The fork (produced) was the one his brother had bought in Oamaru. It had been " planted" in a hedge. He next saw the fork at Thomposn's, at Papakaio. Cross-examined : His brother took the folk out from Oamaru. He (witness) would not swear that he ever saw the fork until it was in Thompson's shop.

Joseph Jackson, labourer, residing at Papakaio, stated that on the 21st May he was digging potatoes with a lad named Boreham. He saw the prisoner in the paddock at Boundary Creek. The fork (produced) was the one he had bought in Camaru. He "planted" it in a hedge, and next saw the fork in Thompson's shop. Cross-examined : His brother was out at the Papakaio Plains when the fork was "planted." James Boreham deposed that he knew the prisoner. He (witness) was in Brogden's paddock when the fork was planted, and prisoner was only five or six yards oft. It was in the morning. That night he was with the prisoner and Tennant, and the prisoner took the fork from where it was " planted," and sold it to Mrs. Thompson. He (prisoner) offered him Is. Bd., and told him to say nothing about the matter. He refused to take the money. F

Cross-examined : He saw the prisoner carrying the fork. Margaret Thompson, wife of John Thompson, blacksmith, Papakaio, deposed : She remembered the 21st May last. On that evening she answered a knock at the door. A man offered a fork for sale, as he had given up his job of potato digging, and wanted ss. for it. She gave him ss. and took the 'fork, but could not swear prisoner was the man. Cross-examined: She did not remember the man ; but did not think the prisoner's voice was like that of the man who sold the fork. This was the case for the prosecution. The prisoner said he was in Oamaru when the fork was said to have been sti len, and that he had never been before a Magistrate since he left England, when he was very young. His Worship sentenced the accused to 14 days' imprisonment.