Police Court.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 9, 27 May 1893, Page 9

Police Court.

CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY. [ - * FOUR MEN BEFORE . THE COURT. i Jas. Eastwood, alias Rogers, alias Wallace, 1 Thomas White, George Moison, alias Herbert * Collins, and David Alois, alias James O’Neill, ; alias Janies McGahcy, were charged with ' having, on the 12th of March last, conspired 1 to defraud one Joseph Lay of the sum of £IOO. Messrs R. Gilmour and Geo. Froggatt, 1 J.P.’s occupied the bench.—Sergt. Macdonell conducted the prosecution, and Mr Macalister appeared for Eastwood, and Mr Brodrick for White, the other accused being undefended. Before the ease was gone into Air Macalister ’ applied to the police to restore certain goods and chattels belonging to Eastwood, and which had been seized in connection with another case. Ho wished to sell them and raise funds for his wife and family, and also for his defence. Sergt. Macdonell said he had no reply to make. The application was no part of the case. Air Macalister thereupon handed the Sergt. a Supreme Court writ, claiming damages for detention of the goods. Sergt. Macdonell, who smilingly accepted the document, and said “it was all right,” then outlined the ease for the prosecution. The four men, who have all been already sentenced here on other charges, arrived from Afelbournc on the 11th of March, and went to live in different hotels. It would be proved that when they met they acted as if they were utter strangers to one another. They also met in various back streets, evidently by appointment, although in public leading people to believe they were utter , strangers. Eastwood was accompanied by a young woman whom he represented as his sister, who stayed in an hotel by herself. The defendaißo were people a class who had lately swarmed over from. nmn whom he could call nothing' but human vnltures, who tried to prey on innocent and ignorant people. They would do no work except when compelled to do so in gaol, which was really the only proper place for them, Eastwood, both here and in Hobart, represented that he was connected with the Bank of New Zealand, and got into conversation with two respectable young men on the wharf, who stated, in answer to his enquiries, that they were coming to this colony for work. Eastwood said he would see what he could do for ihem. Eastwood, who travelled in the saloon, while they came in the steerage, met them again at the Bluff, where White also joined them. He also pretended that he was in search of work. The day after they reached Invercargill Eastwood met the young men (Lay and Cooper) and White at the post office, and they all went along Clyde street. They presently turned, and were met by Mois, who in passing dropped a trick box (produced) in pulling out his handkerchief, as though by chance. One of the defendants picked up the box, and wonder was expressed that such a swell fellow would carry an article like that. Mois, after acting as though he bad dropped something, turned back and asked the others if they had found anything. The box was produced ; this served as an introduction ; Mois shook hands all round ; praised their honesty; and produced what , appeared to be a great roll of notes. Eastwood said he was foolish to expose his money in that way, and Mois said he was quite safe with four such honest fellows. He added that his uncle had left him a great fortune, one condition being that he was to help any hard-working, deserving man, by giving him £SO for every £IOO he could show. If such a man put £IOO in an envelope he would add £SO and make him a present of it. He produced an envelope, and Eastwood put some money in it. They wrote their names on the envelope, Mois giving the name of J. Lament, and made an appointment for next day, when the money was to be produced. Lay said he had £IOOO, and showed a draft for part of that amonnt, and was told he would have to show the money. Moison turned up next day with the envelope, but Lay and Cooper had been advised in the interval not to have anything to do with the defendants, whose characters were such that he (the Sergeant) had been instructed, so dangerous were they considered, to prosecute them to the full extent ef the law. Detective Maddern was the first witness examined for the prosecution. Soon after he entered the box Mr Brodrick, White’s counsel, had to retire owing to a severe neuralgic attack, and the Court adjourned till noon. On resuming Mr A. C. Henderson intimated that he had arranged to act for Mr. Brodrick. The Detective then continued his evidence, and was followed by William D. Cooper, bushman, Greenhills.—He was still under examination when the Court adjourned at 1 p.m. for an hour, and the case was going on when we went to press.