RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3728, 6 December 1880, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DAY. (Before H. Kenrick, Esq., 8.M.) LAHCENY. W. Thompson and H. Clifford, two respectably dressed young men, were charged with stealing a one pound note and some silver from the bar of the Pacific Hotel. Both prisoners pleaded not guilty. Sergeant-Major O'Grady deposed to the arrest of the prisoner Thompson at Shortland yesterday. The accused was identified by W. Curtis, of the Pacific Hotel, as the individual who had taken the money from the till. Witness produced a one pound note which he had received from Mr Yaughan, and which note the prisoners had changed at the Queen's Hotel a short time after the robbing took place. ■•; Sergeant Mulrille deposed to the arrest of Clifford at the Thames Hotel. Mrs Curtis deposed that she was in, 1 charge of the bar of the hotel, and whilst speaking to a gentleman at the side door she heard a noise in the bar, and looking round saw the prisoner Thompson with his hand in the till. She went into the. bar and kept him there, taking some notes and silver from him. Upon looking in ?he till she missed a one pound note. The

gentleman she was speaking to went for a policeman, but could not find one. She then called Mr Curtis, but in the meantime the prisoners had left. Clifford wai leaning on the bar window at the time that Thompson was taking the money. C. Curtis deposed to the prisoner! speaking to him about renting the Academy of Music for three nights for an opera company. He could not swear positively to the note produced, but believed it was one he had had, from its torn appearance. ' M. Campbell deposed that she was barmaid at the Queen's Hotel, and that the prisoner Thompson had had some brandy, and tendered as payment the note subsequently handed to the police. In reply to the Bench, Thompson denied having taken the money, and asked that the case be adjourned till Captain Miller, of the Enterprise could give evidence. Clifford stated that he was a stranger to the other prisoner, and had not seen him take any money from the till of the Pacific Hotel.

His Worship, in summing up the evidence, said it appeared quite conclusive that Thompson had taken the money, and that Clilord was an accomplice. He committed both tp Mount Eden gaol for four months' imprisonment. Court adjourned. .