RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 971, 30 May 1879, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THIS DAY. (Before T. W. Pakkek, Esq., R.M.) VAGRANCY. Isabella Johnston, alias Campbell, was charged with haying no lawful visible means of support. Inspector Thompson prosecuted, Sergeant Beatty deposed that he arrested accused in Thames-street. She was drunk, and had no clothing on but an old skirt. Witness said that the neighbors had complained of her, and he had tried to get her into a public institution. On one occasion when'witness visited the house she was lying on a stretcher with no fire or food in the place. If discharged she had no me&ng of support.

His Worship remarked that this was rather a difficult matter for him to deal with, as he had no power to send accused to a public institution. He would remand her for a few days in the hope that some of her friends would do something for her.

LARCENY. John Madden and Andrew Black were charged with stealing a watch-chain, valued at L 4, from Thomas E. Davidson.

Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Inspector Thompson prosecuted. Thomas E. Davidson deposed that he was in Oamaru on Friday last, and stopped at the Commercial Hotel. He identified the chain as his property. He had been drinking a little. He knew the barman at the Commercial Hotel, and gave the chain to him to mind on Sunday night, and got it back on Monday morning. Witness knew the prisoners slightly, and had seen them at the Commercial Hotel at about 9 or 10 on Monday morning, and had some drinks with them. ■They sat upon a sofa in a room behind the bar. Witness said he had the purest and most genuine chain of the lot, but it was broken. Black said he could mend it, ■and took in his hand and connected it where it was broken. The chain was then passed from one to another, and he saw no more of it. Witness fell asleep for a few minutes, and when he awoke he did ■not remember giving them the chain. They went down the street together, and he asked Madden for the chain, but he saifl Black had got it. Witness was positive that he received the chain back from the barman on Monday morning. By prisoner Madden : When I awakened I did not mention to anyone that I had lost the chain. I was sober. The prisoner.Black had no questions to :ask Daniel Sinclair, barman at the Commercial Hotel,' deposed that he knew the prosecutor. He was staying at the hotel. He gave witness a chain to take care of for him on Sunday night, and he got it back, on Monday mornipg. About one o'clock on Monday witness had occasion to go to the back of the house, and prosecutor was standing at the corner of the urinal. Prosecutor was very drunk, and had the chain in his hand. He said to. witness, " For God's sake, Dan,' take care of this. I am afraid of losing it." Witness had the chain in his possession till he gave it to Detective Livingstone, about 7 orU o'clock at night. At this, stage ; of the proceedings his Worship cfismiss.ed the case.