SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 835, 17 December 1878, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

[from our own correspondent.] NAPIER. December 16. An extraordinary robbery was perpetrated at the Masonic Hotel this morning. _ A stranger was observed in one of the lobbies, but his presence did not excite suspicion until it became known that L3O worth of jewellery had been abstracted from a lady's bedroom. The police are now on the track of the suspected individual. It is reported that a Pakeha-Maori named Chase has been left a large fortune through the death of a brother in America. Chase has been living with the natives here for the last thirty years, and has a number of halfcaste children. Major Routledge, the officer commanding the Volunteers, claimed exemption this morning from serving on a jury, on the ground of being the officer commanding. His Honor, Judge Gillies, asked whether the force was on active service, and a reply being given in the negative, the gallant oilicer was directed to take his seat with the other jurors. ♦ AUCKLAND. December 16. At the Police Court, the Rey, Hugh Alexander was brought up again on seven different charges of stealing Bibles and prayer books from different Auckland churches, The prisoner pleaded not guilty to the charges, Mr. J, B, Russell, who appeared on behalf of the prisoner's friends, said it was suspected that the prisoner was not of sound mind. He advised the prisoner to plead guilty. Sub-Inspector Purdy said the prisoner had shown no signs of insanity. He had stolen the most valuable books from the churches, systematically erased the names, sold the books, and spent the money in drink. He did not see why a person should be let off because he was respectably connected, while a poor man without such influence got punished. Mr. Russell said he was not going to ask the Court to mete out punishment according to the color and value of a man's coat. He would ask for a remand in order that testimony might be brought forward in relation to prisoner's sanity. The prisoner was remanded until Friday next, and the books were ordered to be restored to their owners.