RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Southland Times, Issue 978, 1 July 1868, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before H. M'Culloch, Esq., R.M.) MONDAY, 29th JUNE. . „ Assault — Mrs M. Fale was charged with having struck a boy named. Hunter without' provocation. The defence was that the boy had taken down defendant's fence, trespassed oh" -hec ground^ and killed a rabbit. No evidtnce having been adduced to show that the boy Hunter had so conducted himself; the defendant was fined 10s and costs. Stealing Monet — John Thomson was charged with having stolen from a room in the Albion Hotel £16, t the property.of John M'Clure. : The prosecution was conducted by the Commissioner of Police. John M'Clure, sworn: — I am a shepherd. I have been stopping at the Albion Hotel. I met the prisoner there about last Friday week. He asked me to lend him half-a-crown. He said he had no money, but had to receive some money* (about' £20) from : a party,' but could not get it for a fortnight ; I lent him another half-crown afterwards. I put my money in my swag — consisting of three five-pound and one one-pound notes, and kept them in my bed-room, No 7, at the Albion Hotel ; the prisoner occupied the room opposite the one I had 'taken. I did not sleep at the Albion on the night of Friday, the 26th June ; on the following day after dinner I thought of my swag 'and went to the room, and at once saw that it had been moved ; I examined it and found that it had been opened, the three five-pound notes abstracted and again tied up, the one-pound note being left. I told Mr Cameron of my loss, and he gave information to the police. I identify the five-pound note (produced) as one taken from my swag. A. M. Cameron, sworn : — I am landlord of the Albion Hotel. I know the prisoner ; he has been stopping at my house for about a month. I believe he had no money, because he got one pound from me and borrowed money from other people. He slept in a room opposite that occupied by the prosecutor. I have known the prisoner three years and always found him honest. H. Mayo, sworn : — I knowthe prisoner. He was at my house during Thursday and Friday last ; he had drinks during that time to the amount of about, ten shillings 5- he did not pay for them at the time, but told me he would on Saturday morning ; on that morning he came and paid the amount, giving me a one-pound note, and receiving the change. Mrs Bruce, of the Grarrick Club, and Mr M'Crostie, of the Royal Hotel, gave evidence of each having changed a fivepound note for the prisoner, on Saturday, and identified the notes (produced in* Court) as those received from the prisoner. ..,-.■ Constable James J. Tuohy gave evidence as to having arrested the prisoner, who, after having been cautioned, said he had only had a few shillings for some time past, arid on Tjeing searched at the lock-up, only four shillings and sixpence was found upon him. The prisoner declined to cross-examine the witnesses, or make any statement to the Court. He was committed to take his trial at the next Criminal Session of the Supreme Court.

t TUESDAY, 30th JUNE. '

Labceny — Thomas Gufney was charged with stealing from the door of Messrs Mair and Garven, Dee-street, on. the 18th June, a rug. -The evidence against the prisoner was conclusive, and he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, in addition to the four months' imprison- . ment to which he was sentenced for two: similar offences on Saturday last. '