RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.—GISBORNE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1208, 23 November 1882, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.—GISBORNE.

This Dav. ['Before M. Price, Esq., R.M.] DRUNKENNESS AND KUHIOUS RIDING, Nihunatua was charged with the above offence in Gladstone Road, yesterday. Prisoner admitted being drunk, but did not know anything of the other charge. Constable Wilson was called by Sergeant Bullen and proved the charge of furious riding. The Resident Magistrate lined prisoner 20s for the first offence, and 20s on the second with costs ss. The fine was paid, LARCEN Y. Anaru and Amawate were- charged with stealing 2 table cloths, 1 shirt, and 4 towels, the property of Henry Morse, of the Isle of Mull Hotel. Mr Rees appeared for the prisoners. Sergeant Bullen said that he wished to withdraw the charge against the prisoners in this case, as he did not consider that the evidence would lead to a conviction. He had laid a fresh information against the male prisoner and therefore would ask His Worship to proceed with it. The female prisoner was then discharged, and the new charge against the male was proceeded with. Larceny. Anaru was then charged with the larceny <0! the above-mentioned property. Mr Rees appeared for the prisoner. Sergeant Bullen said he would now proceed with the evidence, and called the prosecutor, Henry Morse, who stated : I am an accommodation house-keeper, at Matawhero. I went there about two months ago. When I went there 1 purchased .some tablecloths and linen from Mr E. K. Brown, in Gisborne. The tablecloth produced is one of two of that pattern that 1 bought from Mr Brown. Prisoner lives two miles at the back of my place. One of the tablecloths bought from Mr Brown was taken off the line on the Bth October last. Both tablecloths, viz., the one ; produced and the one taken, were of the same ! pattern. I should know the tablecloth that | was taken if 1 saw it. I believe the tablecloth produced is of the same pattern. I will not swear that the tablecloth produced is mine, but it is of the same pattern, and I the stitch on the hem is the same. I can : swear to the second tablecloth, which is now 1 produced. I swear to it by the pattern and i the hole in it. J remember the day the hole I was put in it. I never gave the tablecloth to any person, or sold it. Cross-examined by Mr Rees : I can’t remember the date when the hole was put in the table cloth. It was done when I was carving a turkey. There is no mark on the ! tablecloth except the hole in it, which is not ;my registered mark. The hole was made ; three weeks before it was stolen, and it was ; not mended. By the Bench : The value of the tablecloth jis about os. I swear positively to the cloth j produced being mine. It is the same pattern I and size. If it is not the same it is very i much like it.

Constable Pegiey, sworn : I am’a constable of police, stationed at Ormond. By virtue of a search xvarrant I searched prisoner’s whare on Monday last. Prisoner was not there, but his wife was. I found the two tablecloths produced under the wife’s head. The cloths were folded and underneath the blanket under her head. I subsequently arrested prisoner at Ormond the same day at 4 o’clock, I told him I arrested him for stealing the two tablecloths. I told him the charge but I did not shew him the tablecloths. He said he had bought two tablecloths from McGarva at Takapo. He said he had given 4s. for them. Cross-examined by Mr Rees : Morse was not with me when I searched. I arrested prisoner on a charge of larceny. Sergeant Bullen asked to withdraw the information. His Worship declined to allow this. After some discussion, the case was adjourned until Monday next at 10.30 a.m. Prisoner allowed bail, one surety in £2O,