RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 403, 21 June 1881, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, TEMUKA.

Monday, June 20, 1881.

(Before J. N. Wood, Esq., R.M.) X.ARCENV.

William Brown was charged with having on the Bth instant stolen three blankets and two bed nigs, of the total value of about £2 10.-, the property of Mr John Morton Ollivier.

Constable Burke, deposed : From information received I went to the Wincheater Hotel at about 11 p.m. on the 9tb instant. Saw accused there and searched him. In the bag were three blue blan- * kets and two bed rugs, the same as those now before the Court. He accompanied me from Winchester to the Temuka Hotel, and at half-past one o’clock on the morning of the 10th I arrested him, in consequence of what I heard there, on a charge of stealing blankets and bed rugs from the Temuka Hotel. The articles were claimed by Mr Ollivier, and the housemaid identified them in prisoner's presence. The housemaid said she missed them on the morning of the Bth instant. The prisoner said the things were given to him by a man near the Bank of New Zealand on the previous day. I had seen prisoner previous to the 9tb. I asked prisoner to give me a description of th« man who gave him the swag, and he did «o, but indifferent ways, at one time saying he was dark and at another that he was fair. I saw the prisoner on the 7th instant carrying a swag similar to the one before the Court.

Catherine Welsh, deposed : I am servant at the Temuka Hotel. Don’t know the prisoner. Remember on the Bth inst. missing four dark blue blankets. Those now before the Court are of the same description. I also missed two counterpanes at the same time. They were similar to the two now produced. I searched through the hotel for them, but failing to find them, I told Mr Ollivier of the loss on the next day. I afterwards saw them in the possession of Constable Burke. Mr Ollivier, Mr Selleuse, and accused were present.

John Morton Ollivier, deposed : I am an hotelkeeper residing at femuka. I saw the accused on Monday evening, the 6th instant, when he stayed at my house* He went to bed in No. 5 room. On the afternoon of the 7th I saw him again in the house. I believe he left me on the 7th. I did not hear of anything being lost out of the hotel till the 9th, when the servant told me there <vere three blankets and two counterpanes missing. She afterwards told me there was another blanket missing. I recognise the two bed quilts as my property, and tho blankets answer the description of those lost, I never authorised anyone to dispose .of th em or give them away; About half an hour after I heard of the loss reported the matter to Constable BuzlfcoSome hours after Constable Burke brought prisoner to my house. Catherine Welsh, re-called : I saw the blankets and counterpanes on the bed in No. 5 room on the Tuesday, and missed them on the Wednesday.

In answer to the charge prisoner said he was not in Temuka on the day the articles we”e said to have been stolen j that he was in Timaru, and went to the Washdyke, and from there came to Tetnuka, whore he saw a nw n named George, the barman at the Temuka Hotel, who took him into the hotel and gave him a drink. That was the only time he was in the hotel. He bad a swag similar to. the one in Court, but lost it. A man afterwards came up and said it was a pity that he (prisoner) should travel without any blankets, and gave him the bag for which he was arrested on the charge of stealing.

H’S Worship sentenced the accused to one month’s imprisonment 'with hard labor, remarking, at the same time, that what prisoner had stated was most improbable.

DRUNK ASD DISORDERLY. George Ramsay was charged with having on Wednesday last, been drunk and disorderly. As the accused had been locked up fop eighteen hour* previous to being let out on bail His Worship dismissed the case with the usual caution. (Before J. Nugent Wood, Esq,, R.M., and J. Mendelson Esq., J.P.) CIVIL CASES. J. Brown v, M, Washington—Claim £3 12s Id on a judgment summons. The defendant (a woman) said she was keeping a house for a contractor at Ash* burton, but did not get any money from him, as ho paid for clothes and keep for herself and child. The party's name is Eden. He is the father of ray child. I pass in Ashburton as Mrs Eden. The debt was contracted four years before I went to lire with him.

The Bench ordered the defendant to pay the amount due on or before Ist July next,or in default fourteen day’s imprisonment in her Majesty’s gaol at dington. S The Court then rose.