RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

West Coast Times, Issue 46, 19 September 1865, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before G. S. Sale, Esq., R.M.) . • Saturday, 16th September. James Philips was brought up, on remand, charged with aiding and abetting in the lato robbery of gold dust at Maori Point. From the evidence of Thomas Harrison, tho partner of Mr /White, it was clearly proved that the prisoner could not havo been at Maori Point at tho time the theft was committed, and ho was therefore discharged, his Worship remarking that he left tho Court without the slightest stain on his character, at tho same time ho considered the Sergeant was perfectly justified in arresting him, as it looked suspicious his recognising tho gold at onco when produced. Henry Toratch, on remand, was again brought up, charged with stealing a quantity of gold dust from the store of White and Harrison, on Maori Point ; on his first appearance the prisoner had pleaded guilty to tho charge. Thomas White deposed — I am a storekeeper on tho Greenstone. Wo have one store at the junction of tho Teremakau, and another at Maori Point. I know tho prisoner. On Friday, the Bth instant,' I was in the store, at Maori Point, serving a customer. I had occasion to give him change, and reached my hand up to a pain killer box that was on a shelf at tho back of tho store, about seven feet from the ground ; in this box I had been in tho habit of putting my gold, and on lifting it found that a bag of gold I had placed there, containing about 45 oh, was gone ; just over tho box there was a rent in tho calico, through which a person from the outsido might reach tho box ; tho rent in question would, in consequence of a fall in tho ground, bo eleven feet from the surface. At first I thought a neighbour had been . playing me a trick, but ho denied all knowledge of the matter. I then went round to the back of the store, and there saw a porter cask had been placed on end under tho hole in the gable-ond of tho store, and I at once concluded the gold had been extracted that way. I saw the gold tho previous night safo in the box, so I am sure tho robbciy must have been committed on Thursday night. The prisoner lived within eight hundred yards of my store, ho was keeping an hotel for Mr Campbell, and had been living there for somo three or four weeks ; ho was often in my store. I believe the bag of gold now produced to be my property, but I should not like to swear to it. My partner, Mr Horrison, is better able to identify it, as ho used it oftener than myself. Thomas Harrison, being sworn, deposed — Ho was a partner of last witness, and left Maori Point for Hokitika on tho Monday previous to the robbery ; heard nothing about it until Saturday last ; had constantly used tho bag during tho past two months, and could swear to it if he saw it. Bag was here produced, and in examining it witness swore to the bag as his property, although ho did not remember a hole in it, which must have been since made.

Tho prisoner, in answer to his Wor* ship if ho had anything to say for himself, replied that ho had not once opened the bag. Committed for trial at the next criminal scssious of tho Supreme Court.

No business of any importance was transacted at the police court yesterday Two drunkards paid the usual penalty, and one civil caso was disposed of.