Police Court, TE AROHA. SATURDAY, JULY 20th,..1889. (Before Messrs J.A. Dobson and J. Hott, J's. 'P.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 387, 24 July 1889, Page 2

Police Court, TE AROHA. SATURDAY, JULY 20th,.. 1889. (Before Messrs J. A. Dobson and J. Hott, J's. 'P.)

CiuitcfE, of Larceny : Prank Kich and Samuel Bond (youths, apparently about ninotpori or twenty years' of, age) were charged on the information of Win. Pen'rce of stealing goods viz., one flannel shirt, value 7s 6d ; one pair of flannel drawers, ■ value 4s 6\\ ;' and one pair of woollen 'socks, value 2"s ; the | property of the informant, on July 16th, at Te Aroha. The prisoners both pleaded, Not Guilty. Sergeant Emerson related the circnmstancos of the 1 case, which were briefly to ! the effect that both the accused, together with a young man • named Johnston, hud been Ptnyint? for gome dayg at j Thomson'! Family Hotel, Te Aroha, where Pearce wns employed as cook. They all three left on the lGth July, and Pearce, missing tho Articles mentioned, laid an information and had a search warrant issued against thn tln-pp. The police promptly took steps to have tho warrant put into effect, and after a great deal of trouble and searching, found the young men near Stanley Landing, Matamata. The missing shirt and drawers were found in Rich's swag, and he admitted taking the shirt, stating lie took it in lieu of money Pearoe owed him ; but he stated Bond took the drawers, and that they had been put into his (Rich's) swag merely to oblige Bond, Pearce was sworn, and identified the shirt and drawers found by the police as his property, etc. He admitted owing Rich a few shillings, and said he went out to Waitoa to try and get some money due him there, in order to pay the amount ; not being aware at that time his shirt, etc,, had been taken from his swag in the hotel. Rich in- his statement admitted he stole the shirt, but said he told Pearce he should take something instead of the money if he (Pearce) did not pay him. Frank Rich was convicted, and sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment in Auckland Public Prison with hard labour. The police had no direct evidence to offer against Bond, and the charge against him was accordingly dismissed. Charge of Larceny : Samuel Bond Cthe same person as charged in the previous case), was charged qn the in-

formation of Louis Petery, with stealing ft pair of spurs, value Gs, his property, from Thomson's Family Hotel, To Aroha, on July 16th. Accused pleaded Guilty. -Servant Emerson stated the circun?staMta s of the case, from which it appeared Petery was also boarding at the Family Hotel, and missing his spurs shortly after the accused loft, followed him up on the road, an 1 got them from him. Petery's evidence was also taken. The Court adjourned for a couple «f hours iv order that the police might have time to communicate with the Cambridge police, as they had reason to believe there were some previous convictions'against Bond. When lac Court' resumed the following telegram was handed in by the police, which they had received from Constable Brennan, of Cambridge :— ." Samuel Bond, assault. Fined, 40s, and costs 17s; paid, October sth, 1888. Insulting behaviour. Cautioned and discharged. Summoned in both case 9." The sentence of the Oourt was two months imprisonment in Auckland Public Prison, with hard labour. The prisoners were conveyed to Auckland by Monday's train in the custody of Constable Wild.