RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 60, 3 April 1869, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before W. L. Simpson, Esq., R.M.)

Satubdat, Maboh 27.

Police v. Q-oodsir.— Bt. G-oodeirwas charged with having, on the 18th of March, stolen a gold vatch, &c, the property of John Donovan. John Donoran, being sworn, deposed : I am proprietor of the Shamrock Hotel, Lawrence. On 18th March I owned a gold watch (the watch was a gold hunting lever watch), steel chain, and one sorereign of the reign of George HI. I hung it on a nail in my bar fronting the door. On that morningl hung the watch on the nail, and I missed it some two hours afterwards; at least, Mrs. Donorm told me the watch was gone. After I hung the watch up I went back to my bed-room to finish dressing. I was away about" ten minutes. When I came back to the bar the accused and Dr. Cronquist were in the bar. The prisoner was standing near the bar. He could easily have taken the watch from where he was standing. At this time I did not miss the watch,; in fact, I gave it no thought. "(The watch, being produced, was identified by witness as his property.) I would recognise it amongst a thousand. I have peculiar and secret marks on it. These marks were made on the occasion of my having lost it some years ago. I value the watch &a, at £21. I was offered £20 for it alone, I recognise the sovereign as having been my property. I recognise it from the peculiar spot in which the hole is bored. This was done by my own direction. I next heard of the missing property on the 25tk Constable Smith saowed me a 'sovereign', which I immediately identified as my property. Sometime afterwards he showed "me toe watch. The accused frequented my house.

He had an occasional meal. He had no more privileges in my house than any other gentleman. I treated him as such.

The prisoner had no questions to ask. Austin Parker, being sworn, deposed : I am a- watchmaker, residing in Lawrence. I know Mr. Donovan. jL l recollect repairing his watch. It -vflP*in my shop some three weeks ago. The watch is a gold hunting watch. The number is 11366; London makers, Rodehouse and Sons. I know this from my book, in which I keep an account of all watches that come to my shop. (Book produced.) I also identify the sovereign. I drilled the hole in the sovereign myself. There was a small ring attached which I do not see now. The watch has been more than once in my possession. Prisoner had no question to ask. Constable Smith, being sworn, deposed : From information I received I went to the hotel kept by "William Griffin, and obtained from him the sovereign now produced. I then went to the prisoner's house, and asked him where he got the sovereign "which, he had paid to Griffen. I produced the sovereign to him. He said he got it from a man the night before for strapping up his wiist. I asked him if he could describe the man: he said he could not. I asked him if be made any entry in his book. He said that he kept no books. I told him that the sovereign had been identified by Mr. Donovan j that it was attached to the chain of his watch. I asked him again if he could identify the man : he said he could not. He said I know nothing about the man. He raid first he was a man of about sffc. Sin. or 9in. ; then said he was sft. 3in., stout made, with mole trouseu and dark coat. I then executed a search warrant on the premices. He made no objection. He said I know nothing about it. I did not find the missing property. I then arrested him for stealing the sovereign. The prisoner was brought before the Bench and remanded to gaol. When at the station I asked him for the watch. He said he had got no watch. I then put my hand in hia right breeches pocket, and found the watch. I then put my hand in his left pocket, and found the steel chain. He said that is my watch : I lost it once. He said, I know nothing about the chain ; some one must have put if in my pocket unknown to me.

Statement of prisoner: The sovereign I got from the man described. I ako got one shilling. Next morning I went to G-riffen's to pay for some mutton. I think the amount was 3s 6d or 4s. I got back the difference. He remarked that he would keep the sovereign as he did not sea one like it every day. I then asked him to let me look at it, which he did. lie remarked that it bad a hole boredygi it, and that somebody no doubt PJhß|^. In regard to the watch, I hact^UM^ them in the house. I gave £Q for one and £5 each for the other two, and I had a musical box which cozt me £2. I bought the lot at Scon's Hofcel, Poplar, London, for the purposa of selling them in New Zealand, all of which I lojt out of my honse in Lawrence. I remarked this to Mr. Gibb : I think on Wednesday. I went to G-ibb's to have my carte-de-visite taken. "When I returned he accompanied me. The watch now produced was lying on the bed. One of the watches I had bought was a gilt one similar to the one now produced. I said to Mr. G-ibb that the best of the watches was returned, and stated that I thought some one took the watches in a joke. I put the watch in my pocket. If I had opened it I would have at once Been that the watch was not mine. I did not know that the steel chain was in my possession. Some one must haye put in in [vmy pocket.

William G-ibb, having been sent for and sworn, deposed that he recollected Q-oodsir telling him that he bad two silver watches and a musical box, and that they were taken away by* some one. I don^ recollect his saying that he got one of them back. It was about the middle of the week he mentioned the circumstance to me.

The prisoner was committed to stand Ms trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court, Dunedin.