ALLEGED THEFT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9045, 11 March 1908, Page 4

ALLEGED THEFT.

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

A native named Huru, alias William Ropata, was charged on remand at the PoMce Court, at Masterton yesterday morning with having stolen a gold watch and chain valued at £lO, the property of Mrs E. Inglesby. Accused was defended by Mr H. Ayson, of Wellington. Thos. Porter, informant, licensee of the Club Hotel, and his stepdaughter, Mrs Inglesby, owner of the watch, in their evidence stated that accused was staying at the hotel about Christmas time. Accused slept in a room nearly opposite Mrs Inglesby's. The watch was missed in January. l>tectivt) Siddells, of Wanganui, deposed to arresting accused at Putiki. Accused said he bought the watch from a man named Barak, a pedalling watchmaker, the transaction being effected in Nicol's tailor shop, Masterton. Marcus Barak, watchmaker, denied fselling the watch to accused, whom he said he knew. Witness denied ever visiting the upstairs portion of the Club Hotel. John Nicol and Win. R. Nicol, tailors, in evidence, said they did not see any sale as alleged by accused in theirshop. This closed the case for the Crown, and as accused reserved his defence, he was committed for trial at the Supreme Court, Wellington. Bail was allowed, the. amount fixed being £2OO, accused's own recognizance of £IOO, and two sureties of £SO.