MAGISTERIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2498, 23 March 1881, Page 2

MAGISTERIAL.

—.— •TIMARU—THIS DAY. (Before R. Beetham Esq., E.M.) THE IAECENY EEOM A BOAEDING HOUSE. ‘ William Gardiner was charged on remand with the larceny of property of the value of £4, from Hamilton’s boarding-house, Timaru, in 1877'. . Mr Reid appeared for the accused, Inspector Pender conducting the prosecution.

Mrs Hamilton was re-calle(l, and repeated some of her previous evidence, and another woman, a Mrs Lindsay, was examined, but little fresh evidence was elicited.

Mr Shepherd, storekeeper, deposed to a man very like accused calling at his store several times in May, 1877, bathe was unable to , swear positively to the accused’s identity with that man. The man who visited the store left a sack on one occasion there containing amongst other things a concertina, which Mrs Hamilton subsequently claimed as her property. Mr Eeicl asked that the charge might be summarily dealt with.

Mr Beetham said he could not deal summarily with it because the information had not been laid within six months of the commission of the alleged offence. Mr Reid said that it had been sworn in evidence that an information was laid within six months of the robbery.

Mr Beetham said he was unaware of it, and directed the Clerk of the Court to caution the accused in the ordinary way.

Mr Reid said that before the accused was cautioned, he would ask His Worship to take a note of his objections, that an information had been laid within six months of the robbery and that therefore the case could be dealt with summarily. His Worship said that even assuming that such had been the case, and that the proper information was then before him he should still think this was a case to go to a jury. The accused who reserved his defence, was then committed for trial at the Supreme Court sittings in June next, his Worship intimating that he would accept bail, accused in £SO, and two sureties of £25 each. The Court then adjourned.