A Waitara Stealing Case.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7842, 7 June 1905, Page 2

A Waitara Stealing Case.

At the New Plymouth Police Court on Tuesday a . young man named John Sitter was charged •with tho (heft on May (26 of two gold rings, valued at £24 os, the property of Miss Jennie Wilson, the daughter of the proprietor ol the, Bridge Hotel, I Sergeant Huddrell couducted the ' prosecution, and Mr Fitzhci<bert apIpeared for the defence. In order. ' thai accused, who pleaded not guilIty, should be summarily dea.lt with, the value oC tho stolen property was reduced to £2O.

Evidence was given that on tho date mentioned Miss Wilson and htr, father visited New Plymouth. The former left the rings in a box on tho dressing-table in her room. She missed the rings on the following) (day, when accused, who bail been a boarder at the hotel for a fortnight,, left suddenly without paying his 'bill. Accused I was nrrested at whe e the rings were found in his pos.sission. When charged wjth tho thel't accused xlenied lvis guiJt. Ho was arrested by Constable Dick, of Moktttt, who said Slater appeavod to have been on the spree. Accused told Constable Ileatiie that ho did) not know he had the rings till luf found them in his pocket on tho 28th d Accused, a labourer, made a utaicrnent to the Bench that he arrived! at Waitara about a fortnight ago,. and commencod drinking heavily. Ha bad uo recollection of getting possession of the rings. When ha discovered he had theru in his pocket at Uruti he determinod to send them back, by post immediately, but on arrival at Mokau he was arrested. The S.M. considered the cose a perfectly clear one of theft, and recorded a cosviclion. . At the ro<(fuest of counsel accused was remandoj for sentence till June I IS, for the report of the probation officei'j