MAGISTERIAL

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7074, 21 February 1893, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL

FAIH.LIE - Monday, FsJ)kvaut 31st, (Biforo C. A. W ray Seq , R.M, and J.} McGregor, A. McLean, and F. R. Gillingham J.P.’a.) liAKOEUr. Thomas Edward Lyle was charged with stealing a box of tobacco, value £5 10s, from j tlie Railway Goods &hed at Fairlie. J. W Smith, atalionmaster at Pairlie, deposed that on the 16th January a box of tobacco arrived at Fairlio from Umaru, consigned to B. Biddle. Pukaki, from Tyrrell, King and Co. Identified the case produced by the names on it. The case was missed from the shed on tfao 14th February. On the 17th went to the Raindiff grain shed (in the station yard) accompanied by Constable Hilliard. Went through a trap door leading under the floor and found the tobacco produced and the broken up case under the floor. A claim had been made on toe Department for the vulue of the tobacco, £5 10*. Often saw accused at the Railway Goods Shed. Mr Hichards, the manager at Maincliff, told witness how he could open the door of the shed, but witness did not think he could open the door that w»y. J. 1). 0. Richards, manager at Raiacliff, i stated accused has charge of the grain shed and kept the bey.his duty being to receive grain from carters and stow it. He was in charge till Saturday last. Casual hands had no occasion to go beneath the floor. On the 17th February witness went under the floor to see how the bearers were standing the pressure of the grain, and saw no tobacco. Only had a casual look round underneath. By prisoner : You showed no hesitation in going down with me. I told the stationmaster there was a possibility of working back the bolt with a long carving knife and so opening the door ; but it has never been I done to my knowledge. T. Greaney, carter, gave unimportant evi- j denre. I J. Siegert, storekeeper, from whom accused had been in tho habit of buying tobacco, showed that he purchased none since the 23rd January, until Saturday last. W. Hilliard, constable, described tho finding, at 8.80 on Friday evening, of tho tobacco under tho floor of the grain shed, the tobacco at one end of the shed, the broken box (with the address label still on) at the other end. The following morning be called accused into the stationmasfer’s office, and asked him if he could account for the misisng tobacco being under the shed in his charge. Accused said he could not, and added that there were others working there besides him. Asked him If the other men had recourse to the place under the floor, and accused said that Mr Richards was there with’ him the night before, and that a man named Walker had been there, but be did not know whether Walker had been there since the tobacco was missed. Witness thop (arrested him. By prisoner : I do not recollect your saying that several had been down there. By the Court:. The Bainoliff Shod is in the

sta'-on yard, a few chains from the railway goods shed. Accused was committed for trial at the nexl criminal sessions at Timaru. Bail was allowed, himself in £SO, and two sureties in £25 each.