RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.—GISBORNE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1234, 28 December 1882, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.—GISBORNE.

This Day, M. Pbice, Esq., B.M.] CHARGE OF LARCENY Al* A BAILEE. Rawini Karaka was again brought tttJ Off a charge of larceny as a bailete on thb infer mation of M. and remanded fot eight days, A SERIOUS CHARGE. James Laug, an elderly man, was with having, on the 26th instant, thrown scalding water into the face of a Native named Meta Hianga. The Sergeant applied fdr a remaild, on tiffs ground that the injured man was nnaljle to attend. Prisoner was remanded until the 3rd of January, JBB3. LARCENY.

Rawiri was charged with the larceny of 3fls, the property of David Dihan, bn the 23rd inst. Margaret Dinan deposed to the fadt of thU prisoner being present on that day in the hotel, and that she was informed by John Goonan that the accused had entered the bar, and had taken the glass in which silver was kept. She could not say whether the accused was sober or drunk. She sent fot a constable, aud shortly afterwards accused came into the bar, and said “ I have not got your money.” He shouted three drinks, and paid 3s for them, Prisoner then left the house, after shouting for six people, fot Which he paid 3s. By the Bench—When I left to go to the | store room there was from 25s to 30s in thfe till. During that time there was no pbrsoti in the bar. The only persons I saw at that i time in the bar were John Goonan and J. Donovan. The glass prisoner gave to nite i was the one left in the bar. When I asked Frisoner to give me back the money, he said was no good. I do not know whtere Goonan got the glass from. I had no change to give tht prisoner. By the prisoner—I did not see you teeD-te the glass. There were two others with yoh when yotx shouted at the bar. I took monay from you for six drinks. j In reply to the Bench, the witness stated that the money was all in silver. John Goonan stated ; 1 am in the employ of Major Westrup, at Matawhero. On thte 23rd inst. I was at the Royal Oak Hotel in company with Donovan, in the bar partof.x Prisoner was there between two ana o’clock. Donovan and I heard a noise as money was being “ rattled.” I got up off thte chair and looked. I saw him with a tumbler in his hand, 1 went into the bar and asked accused what he was doing? He said “I want my shilling.” When I reached out for the tumbler he turned the money into his hand, and placed it in his pocket. I tried

■ to stop him, and he pushed me away fhrtil the door. I called for Donovan. I wae sober. Mrs Ashdown was present when I took the glass front the accused. Mrs. Dinan came at tlie time J called out for Donovan. \\ hen I snatched the glass from the prisoner 1 could not tell what money might hare been in it previously. Mrs. Dinan asked for thte money, ahd I came into town to see PinaM. To accused ; 1 did not see you take the i glass, but i saw it in your hand. There wm ‘ another Native in the passage. John Donovan stated he was in the employ ’of Major Westrup. On the 23rd inst, he ; was at D. Dinan's hotel with Goonan, i : know the prisoner, and saw him between two ■ and three o’clock on that day. I saw Goonan jump up and go into the bar, and I went : into the bar. Goonan and prisoner Were pulling at the glass. Goonan asked where I the money which had been in the glass wm 1 The only reply was, “ I want my shilling back.' The accused hit Goonan, When I had my drink Goonan served me, Mrs. Dinan did not return until the row took gn place. JH M itness, after the depositions were read, said that Goonan had not got charge of the bar when he got the brandy. To prisoner ; I saw you with the tumbler in your hands, but did not see you take it from the shelf in the bar. Mrs. Dinan, recalled, said she had on previous occasions requested Goonan to keep an eye to the bar when she was absent, but did not do so on this occasion.

Eliza Ashdown gave evidence of having seen the prisoner in the hotel on the day in question, and also that she saw a struggle between Goonan and the accused. Constable Walsh proved the arrest, and an important statement made by the prisoner. Samuel (a Native) stated that on the day in question he and accused with two other Natives went to the Royal Hotel for a drink. Goonan was behind the bar. The Court adjourned, and on resuming the witness proceeded to give evidence, but it was very contradictory. First of all the unsophisticated aboriginal swore that Gnonim served the drink, and afterwards that Mrs. Dinan had served the liquor.

His Worship remarked that Samuel’s evidence was not to be relied upon. The prisoner was remanded until Tuesday next, at 2 p.m. Bail was disallowed. William Gundry, a half-caste, was charged with haying, on tne 21st inst., stolen a watch valued at £2 15s, the property of Mary Rose Appleton.

Mary Rose Appleton deposed she was in the employ of Dr Leggatt. Bhe owned on December 21st an open-faced silver Geneva watch, which she had hud for about a year. She Inst saw the watch about the middle of tlie day on Thursday last. It was then banging on a nail on the dresser in Dr Leggat’s kitchen. She missed it about half-past 10 o’clock that evening. She had n >t sold or given it to any person. Anna Caldwell stated that she was cook at Dr Leggatt’s, and was so on the 21« t of the present month. She last saw the watch at ten minutes past four o’clock on that day. u e WaS conv ’’ nce d the watch produced was the one owned by her fellow-servant. Witness had never authorised anyone to take the watch. James Harris, a lad 12 years of age, who works at Dr. Leggatt’s during the day, said that on the 21st mst. he was working there. He saw a watch in the kitchen, but would

not know it again. He knew the prisoner, who was at the Dr.’s place on Thursday be* tween 10 minutes and 4.30 o’clock. Prisoner came with a parcel from Parnell and Boylan’s. Witness knew that the time was after ten minutes P"t, four o’clock, because he hail asked the cook at the time. Shortly after that prisoner oame with the parcel, and they both went into the kitchen together Prisoner pat the parcel on the table and eat on the table, the watch was hanging just above the accused's shoulder when ho eat on the table. tn reply to questions put by the prisoner, withes. told turn that the boss and the servants were out. Witness went out to get a drin k for for prisoner who stood octaide the door. (Left Sitting.)