RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 645, 28 May 1878, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THIS DAY. (Before T. AV. Parker, Esq., R.lifO STONI3 xintowixr,. The two boys, James Lament and Thomas Hudson, were brought up again, charged with having broken the glass in one of the Corporation lamps in Teesstreet. The evidence of ihe lad Young having been read over to Hudson, who did not d-:iiy the charge, Ilia Worship fined Hudson 395., with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment. The boy Lambert was discharged with a caution. AXSOJs. Thomas George Smith was charged with having, at Otopopo on the 17th instant, set lire to grain and other produce to the value of L2OO, the property of Mr. Robert Morrison.

Sub-Inspector Smith deposed that on the IStli instant ho received information that Mr. Robert Morrison had had grain burned to the value of over L2OO. From information which lie had received, he went yesterday to a paddock near Richmond's Grossing, and saw the accused there. Ho was employed driving horses. Witness told accused who he was, and cautioned him in the usual way. He arrested accused on the charge of having caused the lire at Mr. Morrison's at Otepopo. After some time accused said "It's all right; I didn't intend to deny it. I kept my word, as J promised I would do ; and I wasn't going to break my word. I told Morrison several times that if he did not give me the written agreement, he would repent of it before night. Accused also said that he was sorry after he had put the match to the. grain, as it was then too late. He further said that lie would promise never to do such a thing again'. He also told witness that when ho asked Morrison to settle up with him, Morrison threatened to give him a slap in the mouth if he did not go away. He said Morrison had promised to give him an engagement for six months, and after the threshing was finished, lie asked Morrison to give him the agreement ill wr ng, or to pay him for the work he had d J ne. He repeated several times that thij was the reason for having set lire to the grain. On the application of Sub-Inspector Smith, the accused was then remanded until Monday next at 11 o'clock.