RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2095, 21 September 1875, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DAY. (Before Jackson Keddell, Esq., K.M.) STEALING FIREWOOD. James Hanhaui was charged that'he did-feloniously steal from the premises?of one Hannah Bowman, situate in Pollen street, Shortland, two pieces of firewood of the value of 6d, the property of the said Hannah Bowman, on the 19th inst. Defendant said he took the timber with the intention of returning it, which was accepted,as a plea of not guilty. . Sergeant Elliot said accused had stated his intention of pleading guilty, and cqnsequently one of the witnesses was absent. He would ask for a remand. Defendant said he would plead guilty. Hannah Bowman, prosecutrix, said— She was a widow. J£new the accused, who lived next door. Never gave him liberty to take wood from her yard. - She had repeatedly missed wood.: A piece which she identified yesterday (produced) was found in the defendant's yard. She had lived near accused for..three months, and had no reason to believe anyone else would .take it. •--.,., , Constable Hanly said he $rent to prisoner's yard yesterday and I found :the piece of wood produced, which prosecutrix identified as hers.' ' ■ '• ; ] Detective Brehnan saw the accused yesterday, when he told witness that he took one piec6 of wood from the yardnot with the intention of stealing it. Defendant had been known to witness for some time, but there was nothing against him. His wife was keeping a store.

Sergeant Elliott called the attention of the Bench to the fact that this sort of offence was very common. ■ Defendant called Henry Tapley, who said he was a Member of the Boyal College of Surgeons, and had known defendant for. some years. He was a respectable man, and would not, he thought, be capable of such an offence as larceny. The Bench said defendant had pleaded guilty to the offence, and the fact of the prosecutrix being a widow made the offence more objectionable. The plea of borrowing would nob always avail, as there was a danger of people forgetting to pay back again. The Court thought it was necessary not only to punish the offence but to give such punishment as would deter others from these mean little crimes. Giving the accused the benefit of the negative good character he had received, the punishment would be 14 days' imprisonment in Shortland gaol.

NEGLECTED INFANT. Joseph Garibaldi Morrow was brought up on a charge of being a neglected child found wandering about the public streets and sleeping in the open air, and who has not any settled place of abodo or any risible means of subsistence.

Sergeant Elliott said the boy was incorrigible. He had been taken charge of by an elder brother, but he had run away on the first opportunity,, and was known to be sleeping under houses. The father was dead and the mother in the -.asylum. Charles Morrow said he was brother of the boy. Their father was dead and the mother was away. He (witness) had tried all he could to, keep him at home, but ]\e ran away, as soon as he gpt outside. He would' be eight years of age next March. There was another brother. Detective Brennan deposed that he knew the boy, who was in the habit of

sleeping under houses. He had taken him in charge and given him over to the elder brother, who had treated him very kindly, but he had run away again, and #©uld be found sleeping in barrels and under houses, the.owners of which were afraid of his having matches in his possession and setting fire to their premises. • The,accused was ordered to be sent to the Industrial School for seven years, to be brought up in the Presbyterian faith. \ The Court adjourned.