Police Court, TE AROHA. THURSDAY, JULY 25th, 1889.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 389, 31 July 1889, Page 8

Police Court, TE AROHA. THURSDAY, JULY 25th, 1889.

(Before Messrs Johnson and Dobson J's.P) Charge oF Larceny : Joseph Clarke was charged on the information of J. Brumby, with stealing a silver mounted bridle, his property, value 18s, from the buggy house of Mr Jas. GDrdon, Kereone estate, Waitoa, on Jnly 15th. Accused pleaded Guilty. 1 Sentenced to fourteen day's imprisonment in Auokland public prison, with hard labour. Charge of Larceny : The same prisoner was charged on the information of John M. Plato, with stpa.ing a gold ring, valued at £2, his property, on or about June 14th. Accused pleaded Not Guilty. Sergeant Emerson stated the circumstances which lead up to the arrest of the accused, who had been working with a number of other men at Woodlands (between Taupiri and Hamilton). J. M. Plato sworn : I am a butcher residing at Waiorongomai. I know the accused, having worked with him at Woodlands for two or three weeks prior to 14th June last. The accused and sereral others left the camp on that date. Immediately after accused laft I missed the ring. I accompanied the accused to Morrinsville, and then took the horse he rode from him, and on returning to Woodlands I searched for the ring, but could not find it. I last saw the ring (prior to its being found with theaccused) on the night of 12th June. The accused and myself lived in the same tent at Woodlands, so that he could have free access to my clothes, as they were left in the tpnt. 1 had showed accused the ring, so that if he saw the ring again be would know it was raine. I am positive I never gave accused the ring or authorised any person to give it to him. I would know the ring again. The ring now produced I identify as my ring. The ring cost £3 when new, but I value it nt. vr at £2. By the acensad • I had a message from you that I conld get the ring, and a good hiding. I did not choose to go for it. I knew the case of the bridle stealing was coming on. so I preferred to let my case come on with it. By the Bench : I did not know the prisoner had the ring until about two or three weeks afterwards. I could not say why the prisoner threatened me with a hiding, I heard the accused had a ring ergraved Mizpah. Sergeant Emerson sworn, stated : I am Sergeant of the Police, stationed at Te Aroha, ; About four o'clock on Tuesday; last, on account of in Formation received, I went to the 'acctJSP'dV litrVaif Wajorongomai. The last witness was al^ojjresent. .1 told -the accused lie was charged with stealing a gold ring. He said " no, I did not steal the ring, I

foun.i it in the aslies ;" at tho .«ametim<? he went to lv's pocket and producedHhe ring. The owner of the mu&wturstand'ltigsat the door, antf*l?^||pfim if it was his pioperty, and he s'aiUiPyes, the ring ia-mme. ' f f E. H. iiitttajohn j swftifn : I am a butcher, residing at Waio|dnKomai. Accused told m\he heard there* was a report that he had^ stolen \a ring belonging to Plato. He -said to nie-v'Xdid not steal the ring, I fourfif it in the^hes." Ac-, cused told me to tell Pla^.o he could have the ting by £oin<? for it, and a hiding with it. 'lonty&new the accused through his dealing at our butcher's shop, at Waiorongomai. The accused asked me to tell Plato he had the ring, , > Accused made a statement to the Bench to the 'effect that lie did not steal the rimr, but found it alongside the firc r in the ashes at Woodlands/ He 9tated he and another saw the ring at the same time, and ho reached out and picked tip the ring first. He stated he never sarr the ring in the possession of the informant, and was not aware it was the property of the informant. He only heard it said he had a ring. -, In reply to the Bench, Sergeant Emerson said he knew nothing against accused's character, prior to the present charges. The Bench found the prisoner guilty of the charge preferred against him, and sentenced him to seven days' imprisonment in Auckland public prison with hard labour, both sentences to ran concurrently.