RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, GISBORNE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1059, 8 April 1882, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, GISBORNE.

Thursday, April 6. [Before Mr Bennett (the Mayor) and Mr E. Mubphy, J.P.’s.] 'Alfred Jeffreys was charged with a breach of the municipal bye law in riding on the footpath, and furious riding in the public streets. As the accused wished to subptena Mr Price, the case was heard before the Justices named above. Fined 10s. and costs in each instance. [Before M. PBICIi, Esq., R.M.] Wiremu Te Kane was charged with the larceny of a pair of trowsers and vest, the property of James Wallace, at Matawhero, on the 4th inst. Mr Rees for defendant. Sergeant Bullen conducted the prosecution. James Wallace, storekeeper, at Matawhero, proved having trowsers and vests brought to his store on the 4th instant, and that they were tweeds of various descriptions, and all of different patterns. The goods were placed on the counter, and were within reach of any person. Ho left bis wife in the store, and counted the goods. He saw the accused in the store when he went away, and missed the trowsers and vest when he returned, after his tea.

Susan Wallace sworn, deposed: I am the wife of James Wallace. I remember my husband pointing me out some goods, trowsers and vests, on the 4th instant. The vests had a creamcolored lining. My husband pointed the goods out to me just as he was going out to tea. A Maori, the accused, came into the store just as Mr Wallace was leaving it. He wanted to look at some rings. The rings were on the other side of the counter. He took a ring off his finger, and said it was a gold one, and he had paid £3 for it. I took the ring in my hand, looked at it, and returned it to him again. We were then both in front of the counter. I then walked behind the counter, and I saw his hand on the the trowsers and vest, and I asked him if he wanted to see them, and he said “ No.” As I came forward I dropped my woolwork, and stooped down to pick it up. While I was stooping accused went out of the door. He stumbled as he went, and I caught sight of a white article hanging down by his right side, just below his hand. He had no parcel in his hand when he came into the store. He turned to the right as he went out, bringing his right side full in my view. There was another European, Corney, in the store, sitting on a box, when accused left; ho was there when my husband returned. The store is lighted by kerosene lamps. It is rather long and narrow.

Cross-examined by Mr Rees : I am quite certain that Corney was there when my husband came back, as he turned him out. Defendant had nothing in his hand when he came into the store. I had no suspicion when I saw him going out that he had stolen anything. I only saw something light hanging down by his side. Corney was sitting about four yards from accused. Corney was drunk at this time, and unable to notice anything. Jeremiah Sheehan was in the store when my husband returned ; ho came in about three or four minutes after accused had left. Those are the only two people who were in the store. The lamp throws a good light over the store. I was on the other side of the counter, no great distance from the door, when the accused went out. I saw something white, like the corner of the lining of the armhole of the waistcoat, but I could not distinguish what, it was. I saw him stumble at the door. I did not think of examining the goods after he had gone, as I had no suspicion of him at that time. He is not a regular customer of ours. The color of the vest lining referred to is nearer white than yellow.

Jeremiah Sheehan sworn, deposed: I am alaborer, residing at Matawhero. I remember going to Wallace’s store on the evening of the 4th inst. I came from Major Westrup’s house. I know Kaipara. I met a man run uing as hard as he could run, with a parcel in his hand. I took him to be a Maori who was working with a man named Muldoon, opposite Major Westrup’s place. It was too dark for me to distinguish. The parcel was white, and was in his left hand. This was about eight chains from Wallace’s store ; he was coming from the right of the store. I stopped and turned round, and watched him; he passed Muldoon’s house, and went on in the direction of Kaipara. I went on to Wallace’s store. Mrs Wallace was inside the counter, and a man named Con, a European, was in the store. He is a white man ; he was half tipsy ; he asked me for a match. When Wallace returned, and Mrs Wallace left, he sent Con away. I was from ten to 20 minutes in the store before Wallace, returned; he was going to show me the goods ho had got in that day, when he missed the trowsers and vest.

Cross-examined by Mr Rees: Corney came in when Wallace returned ; he was half tipsy. The door of the store faces Makaraka. I can’t say what size the parcel was that the man was carrying. I cannot describe the size. I was half-way between Major Westrup’s gate and Wallace’s store. I saw the man pass Major Westrup’s gate. I won’t be sure what distance it is. I mean that I saw him pass Muldoon’s house, in the direction of Major Westrup’s. Neither of us spoke or called out to the other. I could hear him going along. I could not tell who it was.

Constable Walsh sworn, deposed: From information received I went to Kaipara about ten o’clock on the evening of the 4th inst. Wallace went with me. I went to accused’s ichare, and roused him out of his sleep, and told him he was charged with stealing a pair of trowsers and a vest. He asked me who told me that, speaking mostly in Maori. I understood him clearly. I told him Wallace. He said “ Wallace lies,” and told me I could search his place. Kaipara is about two miles from Wallace’s store. I searched the place, arrested prisoner, aud brought him to Gisborne. Yesterday I went to Kaipara and searched again, finding nothing. Mr Rees addressed the Court, remarking on the scanty evidence produced, as not connecting the prisoner in any way with the theft, other peope having had access to the store equally with the accused. Case dismissed.

Austria has resolved to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina. A debate is now going on in the French Legislature on the question of the oath of allegiance. A proposal has been made to modify it, and the question is being discussed with considerable warmth. General Skobeloff has told certain military officers in St. Petersburg that the Czar secretly approved of the speech which he delivered before the Servian students at the Paris University. The Home News, of January 27, has the following : —“ There is at present on view at the Crown Granite Works, Aberdeen, a very artistically-finished monument, which is about to be sent to New Zealand. The monument, which was publicly subscribed for, is to lastingly commemorate one of the saddest events that could possibly occur—the drowning by shipwreck of an entire family of seven persons —the husband, wife, and five children. It is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Donald Cameron and his family, who were lost at the wreck of the screw-steamer Tararua, off Waipapa Point, on April 29, 1881. Standing 20 feet in height, and made of red granite of a very rich and deep hue, the monument rises from a base 4 feet square, over which comes a die, with a raised scroll on each of its four sides, there being some very nice etched fretwork. There is an octagonal cope, above which comes the column proper, finished off with fretwork and a cap, the whole being surmounted by an elegantly designed urn. The style and execution of the memorial cannot fail to command universal admiration.”