SERIOUS CHARGE OF THEFT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9024, 10 January 1908, Page 6

SERIOUS CHARGE OF THEFT.

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. A charge of theft of about £3 from the person of James Cosford, on January 2nd, was preferred against James Mills, alias John Mills, alias Henderson, and Arthur Thomas, alias Vear, alias Laithwaite, at the Magiit ate's Court, yesterday morning, before Mr W. P. James, S.M. Mr C. A. Pownall appeared for both ac'M ed. Cosford,' in his evidence, stated that he came to Masterton from Pahiatua, on January Ist, with about £4 9s. He had a good deal of drink, and did not go to bed that night as he was walking about looking for a relative's house., During, the night he saw the accused Thomas and two other persons at Kuripuni, and had a 'drink from a bottle of beer that accused had. He did not know much about his subsequent movements, but remembered being, in Thomas' company, in the Queen's Hotel. Late in the afternoon of the 2nd inst. he was awakened by a strange person, and he discovered that he had no money, though he had changed three pound njtes into silver in the Queen's Hotel that morning. William Henry King and Frank B >yle stated that while passing along Chapel Street, on the morning of January 2nd, they saw a man lying on the i ro md and accused Mills with one hand on the man's chest and the other in his pocket. Thomas was also there and the two accused, after leaving Cosford, separated. The witness Boyle awoke Cosford and the latter found that he had no money. Both witnesses identified the accused after their arrest as being the men who were with Cosford. Both accused reserved their defence and were committed for trial at the next sitting of the Wellington Supreme Court, on February 3rd. Bail was not asked for. Accused M'ilis was further charged with frequenting the streets of Masterton on January Ist and 2nd, with intent to commit a felony, but the police did not proceed with the charge, as counsel for accused stated \that Mills' position might be prejudiced thereby, in connection with the former charge.