RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1238, 6 April 1880, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COURT.

THIS PAY. (Before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M. DRUNKENNESS. Patrick M'Cusker, against whom 31 previous convictions were recorded, was charged with having been drunk and disorderly; The same person was charged" with being an habitual drunkard, and was remanded on both charges for 48 hours, for the purpose of producing a list of his previous convictions. LARCENY. John Straughan, alias Andrew Anderson, was charged on remand with having, the 17th November, 1877, stolen a silver hunting lever watch, of the value of L 9, from one Joseph Dondall. The case had been closed yesterday, but Inspector Thompson now asked to call a witness to rebut the statement made bythe prisoner to the effect that he .was not, :iu Oamaru at the time—that he was 500 miles away, in' Inveroargill. He (Inspector Thompson) oould produce evidence ;that the .prisoner was in Oamaru at.thq time., and that he wanted to sell a watch. Constable James King gave evidence to hearing the prisoner say in Court yesterday that he was 500 miles away when tha' offence was committed. , John Walter Buick was called, and stated that he was a tailor, and had in November, 1877, seen the prisoner in Oamaru. He (prisoner) was waiting in Mr. Gemmell's shop one Monday about the middle of November, 1877. Graham came in shortly afterwards. This was about two o'clock. The prisone.r was half a sleep, but awoke when Graham came in, and said he had a watoh which he wished |to sell. Graham told prisoner to bring. I the watch and he might make a deal. Prisoner stated as his reason for wishing to sell the watch was that he thought the police would be after him far money he owed for the maintenance of children in ; the Industrial School,

In reply to questions by the prisoner, witness said he knew the prisoner. He had been in Oamaru about a year previously to the date of the robbery, and he remembered him perfectly well. Hq then went by the name of Straon op Straughan. The prisoner was then further remanded until Thursday next.