POLICE COURT.—Yesterday.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 22, 1 November 1871, Page 3

POLICE COURT.— Yesterday.

Before W. Fraser, Esq., R.M. Larceny . Jeremiah Quinlan was brought before the Court, and pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing a pair of boots, value 10s., the property of James Clark, from the premises of Mr. Rountree, butcher, Grahamstown, on Thursday last. —James Clark, the prosecutor, stated that he is a butcher, in the employ of Mr. Rountree, and knew the prisoner, who was in the habit of visiting Rountree’s premises, which are situated in Owen street. The boots produced arc witness’ property, and were in his possession on Wednesday morning last, when he left them in the stable from which he missed them on the Friday morning following, and gave information to the police on Saturday evening. In consequence of information received witness went to the second hand goods store kept by Mr Campbell, in Grahamstown and saw the bobts in question and identified them as his. The value of them is about 10s. Witness never sold them nor gave anyone permission to take them. Cross-examined by prisoner: Could not swear you took the boots. Did not see you take them. Missed them first on Friday. Did not see you actually on the premises on that day, but you were near them. William Campbell stated that he resides in Williamsonstreet, Grahamstown, and keeps a store there, where he buys and sells second hand goods. Knows the prisoner, and the boots now produced, which witness bought from him on or about Thursday last. Prisoner then said he had a bad foot, and that consequently he could not wear the boots, and asked witness to buy them. Witness bought them, and paid Is 6d for them. Mr Clark and a constable called at witness’s place on Saturday evening, claimed the boots, and took them away. The boots now produced are the same as those bought from the prisoner. Cross-examined by prisoner: You did not say to me when you bought them that a man had given the boots to you. Constable McCleary deposed that, in company with Clark, he went to the store kept by the last witness, on Saturday, and obtained the boots produced. Arrested prisoner on Sunday morning. Prisoner said he did not steal the boots, nor did he sell them to Campbell.—The prisoner declined to crossexamine this witness.—The prisoner, who is well known as a boot-black attheTheatre Royal corner, said that he had had ten or a dozen pairs of boots before him for three years, and no one’ could ever say he stole or lost a pair of boots. He had served in the militia, and several officers on the Thames could give him a good character.—The

' R.M. said it was evident from the list of previous convictions that drink was the Erisoner’s weak point, and was leading im to destruction. The present charge was clearly proved, ond'pnsoper would be sentenced to three month’s imprisonment, with hard labor, the boots to be returned to the owners.