MAGISTRATE'S COURT, TAPANUI

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 70, 12 June 1869, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT, TAPANUI

(Before I. N. Wood, Esq., R.M.) Friday, 4th June.

William Williams was charged by Constable Purdue with stealing a tilt cover in the beginning of March last, said tilt being the property of- James Duncan, bullock driver, of Tapanui, and valued at £3 10s.

John Smart, bullock driver, being sworn, deposed : I know the prisoner. ! He came to my house in March last, j and wished to be allowed to sleep there while building a chimney in the township. It was about 10 p.m. when he came ; I was in bed. The following morning I saw the cover in question in the prisoner's possession. He took it from my place when he left to build a chimney for Symes. I don't recollect the date. Cross-examined by prisoner ; There was no digger from the Teviot stopping ! in my place at that time, and no one j brought the tilt cover to my place but you. John Symes, hotelkeeper, deposed : On the 12th day of March last the prisoner came to my house to build a chimney for me. He had the tilt cover, produced, with him. He slept in a room off the kitchen, and left my place about the 7th April, for Ainsley's. I next saw the cover at the Police Camp, when Constable Purdue asked how it came into my house. I said Brickey (meaning Williams) brought it there. I heard a conversation in my bar between Williams and a man named Webb, and I understood he got the tilt cover from a man at the Teviot, who was down cutting crooked manuka for some purposes on a dredging machine there. James Duncan deposed : I lost the tilt cover, produced, about the beginning of March last, and I reported it to the police. My name is on it. I next saw it when Constable Purdue came to me and told me he had' found it in Symes'. Cross-examined by prisoner : I got a message from you saying that a man from the Teviot gave it to you. Constable Purdue deposed : Early m March last, James Punean came and reported to me the loss of a tilt cover, giving me its description. On the Bth of April I went in. search of a party I wanted into Symes' hotel, and m a small room off the kitchen I found the tilt cover in question, .and on en-

quiry I learnt that it was left there by the prisoner, before leaving for Mr. Aineley's station, on the 7th April. I saw the prisoner on the 2nd instant at Mr. Ainsley's, and asked him what about the tilt coA r er he left at Symes'. He hesitated, and then said he got it from a man from the Teviot, but did not know his name. I then arrested him on the charge of stealing it, and cautioned him ; and on his way to Tapanui, prisoner said, " Did Duncan say anything to you about this affair ? " I made him no answer ; and immediately afterwards he said, "It would stop there till it rotted before I would have anything to do with it." The prisoner produced a letter sent him by "Webb, saying, " Mr. Williams, I hear you are likely to get into trouble about a tilt cover, and I think it is not right. I heard the man say you might keep it." The Magistrate asked the prisoner if he should wish to have case sent to Dunedin, or have it settled by that Bench. The prisoner preferred the latter course, and was sentenced to one month's imprisonment in Lawrence gaol. Samuel Tuckey (remanded case) for wilfully destroying six panes of glass, the property of W. Sfrean, on Bth April last, was fined 55., and 14s. expenses. Win. Strean v. Greorge Bui'ton. — Claim, £10 155., for board and lodging. Verdict for full amount, with costs ; in default, distress ; in default, one month's imprisonment in Switzers gaol. Wm. Strean v Henry Jackson. — ■ Claim, £3 13s. Bd., amount of promissory note. Case dismissed. Bridget Martin v. Wm. Strean. — Claim, £7 155., for wages. Casedismissed. Wm. Earrant v. J. C. Bromley. — £14 14s. 9d. claimed as wages. No appearance of plaintiff. Case dismissed. James Crauford v. John M'Coll. — Claim, £11 7s. 2d., balance of account for boring and pointing posts. Case postponed until next court day, 10th July. Wm. Yallance v. E. Cotton. — Claim, £7, for repairing a bullock waggon. The evidence in this case proved that Vallance was never employed by Mr. Cotton to do the work. Plaintiff got a non-suit, and on Cotton asking for expenses, the Bench remarked he was very lucky to have the waggon repaired by mistake, and could not allow any expenses.

Henry v. Allen. — Claim, £20, carriage of timber to Popauui. Amount paid into Court. On plaintiff claiming heavy expenses, defendant requested to call a witness to prove the charge of Henry for carrying the timber to Popanui (£5 per thousand) was excessive. John Perry, being sworn, stated that L 3 10s. per thousand would be a fair price to Popanui in the summer months, the time the timber was delivered. 15s. expenses were allowed.