MAGISTERIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2611, 3 August 1881, Page 2

MAGISTERIAL.

TIMARU—THIS DAY. (Before T. W. Hall and F. LeCren, Esqs., STEALING A WATCH. William Byers was charged with stealing a watch and chain, value at £9, the property of William Elmore, at Waimate on June 2 last. William Elmore stated (hat he was a laborer, employed at William Sherwin’s Hoyal Hotel, Waimate. He identified the watch produced as his property. .On June 2 it was in the pocket of his vest, which was hanging in the wash-house. Witness was called away, and on returning in twenty minutes the watch was gone. He did not remember seeing the prisoner present. The hotel was full at the time. Isaac Salek, licensed pawnbroker, carrying on business in Timaru, said that on July 16 last, prisoner called at his place. He wanted to pledge a watch for £l, saying that it would not remain long in pledge. He made no remark about the watch. Witness advanced the £l, and gave prisoner the ticket produced. He subsequently gave the watch and ticket to Detective Kirby. William Dillingham stated that he was in the employ of Mr Glen, livery stable keeper, Timaru. He saw prisoner in the stables on July 17. He asked witness to buy a pawnticket. Witness asked him if ft were his own watch he had pawned, and he said “ Yes ” Witness gave him 6s for the ticket. Detective Kirby said, ho received the watch xind pawn ticket produced from Mr Salek. On July 28 he arrested the prisoner at the Makikihi, and charged him with stealing the watch and chain The accused, in reply to the charge'said that he had not stolen a watch, but that the one be bad pledged in Timaru he had purchased from a strange man at Makikihi early in June last; that he had given £1 for it, but he had no receipt ; that there was a man named George Clarke present when . he purchased the watch. He took accused to George Clarke, and in the presence of the accused, Glarke replied that that he had been in company with the accused at Makikihi in the beginning of June, hut that he did not see him purchase a watch, neither did„ lie see anyone offer one for sale there. The prisoner made no reply. Witness asked accused on Saturday last if he wanted any witnesses. He said he did not; that lie was a stranger in these parts, and that the first time he was at' Waimate was at the last races on June 1. Trie prisoner, who had nothing to say, was committed for trial. The Court then adjourned.