POLICE COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 117, 19 May 1903, Page 4

POLICE COURT.

IATUHDAT, 16th Mat.—Before Mr B. L. Stanford, S.M. ALLEGES BURCLiKT. (Continued from yesterday.) The Court resumed at 2 p.m. Jehn Mcßae said: Am a constable Motioned at New Plymouth. Remem"\k the arrival of the Opunake coach on 4th May. The driver of the coach asked accused, who was a passenger, for his fare. He replied he would pay Mhe was going back-ho was g iog tack in a fortnigh*. The driver said he had better pay now, and the accu-red gavfr him a £5 note, and got four £\ notes and soma silver in exchange. .Took accused to the police station and asked him whit money he had. He took the gold (produced) from his

pocket and the silver from one of his gtmanteaux. In reply to S rgearit ddrell he said that was all the money fee had. [Witness then gave similar avidence to that of Sergeant; Haddrell.] "Witness then pu 1 : in a list cf things found in possession of accused. The gold chain accused said he bought at Oponake about a fortnight ago. Arthur Hirst, clerk in the Bank o! 2fowZmlu>d, Opunake, said accused tailed at the bank on one occasion to get gold. Oannot remember ths date, but it would be about the 30th April. He cam* again on the 4'h May. On] the last occasion he cubed three cheques signed Bartle Harford £4 10', o*nui Dairy Oompany £5 14* Id, acd Oanui] Dairy Company £l4 8j 9d. In cashing the cheque) I gave him four £5 notes, four £1 notes, 17s 9d silver and • peony. Oannot cay for certain if he changed any of tV.e notes I gave him for gold. Think the notes he gave me were dirty. Belkva I gave him £lO or £l2 in gold. Accused said he wanted gold as he was going horns to England. The exhibit (>]) chequebook produced wis issued to James McPhee. Accus d had no account at the Biok. By Mr Westoa : Accused made no secret cf h'-'s business or about bis going home to England. George Divie?, watchmaker at Opunake. Remember accus 3d calling at my place some little tima ago ; cannot remember Ihi data, Oa the first occasion he left a watch for repiir. He got his watch on the second ccoasion he called. Oannot say paid ma. He gave me as; chaDge was given, but cannot say if he paid in gold cr a note. Thick there was a half-sovereign in i*. Never gave him gold fjr notes. Mr Weston had no questions. Annie Louise Oorkin, wife of William Thomas Corkin, of Rihotu, Have known the accused for some I ime post He was keeping company with my daughter; they wera to be married next month. Went to Opunake with accused. Sent him into the B.nk to ' gat some cheques cashed. The cheques produced are the ones. He brought me back cash for the ch ques, £24 17a lOd. There were four £5 four single notes, and the biknea in silver and coppjr. He has been a frequent visitor to my house since he was en • gaged to my daughter. He has mads presents to her and to me and the children. The value cf whit he gave the children and me was about 13s. In March last he gave me half a dozen plates and half a dozen cups and saucers. He did not always come empty-handed. I had some conversation about bis leaving his employer. I asked him if he got paid, and also hew much he had coming; and he siid about eleven months wages. Accused never let me know he was gcing to England, or that he was leaving the district at all. I had nojdea what money he was getting, from his employer. He always had money on him.

By Mr Weston: On the evening tf the robbery I and my busbard were driving home in a cart; we overteok ■ceased and my daughter. We al! drove home together, Cannot say what tioce it was; it was before midnight, William Douglass Scott:, auctioneer in business at Opunake, remember on October 18th selling accused a bay

borfo, the price being £5 15a, and he paid the same day. In January this year on the 15th had a sale at Rahotu. Accused was there and bought goods to the value of £ll7a 7d; it was drapsry. There was a galatea, a pair of trousers, sheeting and quilt; £\ 15s was paid on account, that was all he lun on him, the balance being paid on tin 3lat January, Thomas P. ttughson, storekeeper at Kahotu, deposed: I took over my present business on the Ist October. ? Know the accuse! as be has been a fairly regular customer up t.i the 4th Jlay. The total amount cf his business en the books is £1 lie. Ha paid ma very regul r. There is £'2 16s wing n r j\v. Ho also b-.light o-her lit le things f.r cask; about £'i worth for the whale lime. Mr Weston had no questions.

Harry Langman, storekeeper at. Opunake, siid he wns at Rjhotu till October, when he sold out to the last witness. Knew accused as a customer for a p3riod of about five years. He would book on an average about 303 a month. He used to pay nw cv;ry month. He was* a cash customer to the value of about 10s a month, making a total of siy £1 a month. Did not know wbat bis wages were.

I Mr Weston had no question?. Charles Litc'iwaik refused to ba sworn and mado a declaration. He said ha was a horse-trainer and knew the accused and had deilings with him. Educated a horse for him for which he paid me .£3 ; receipt producad ia the one in my writing dated 14h Augus*, 1902. Mr Weston had no questions. The accused was then charged in the usual way and asked to plead, and in a fitm, clear voice said " No*. Guilty." In reply to the qufsi a if he had anything to say, he said " F Jo not wish t3 say anything whatever." Accused was then committed for trhl_at the nest sittings of the Supreme Court and the Court ros?.