RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COURT.

West Coast Times, Issue 85, 19 December 1865, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COURT.

[Before G. G. FitzGeb-vld, Esq., R.M.] .Saturday, Deo. 16. Funious Riding.— Donald Ross, for thisoffence, was fined 40s, tho Magistrate remarking that ho would put a stop to tho furious riding that bad been prevalent in the township. LAnoENY. —Francis Bowler was charged with stealing a brooch value £2 10s, the property of Solomon Happere. The prosecutor said that ho was a hawker, and had seen the plisonor before. About a week ago he was in Cassidy's Hotel, and waS offering goods for sale when the prisoner came in. After the lattor had been there a short time prospciitor caught him putting his hand into his (prosecutor's) carpet bag which contained several broochos. Prosecutor objected to this proceeding, but prisoner said he had taken nothing out of it, and at tho time prosecutor did not miss anything. Subsequently he discovored that a broooh had been taken, and it was one of the same that wns in the carpot bag at I the time the prisonor pnt his hand in. Ho could' not have lost it, for he always put his goods into Mr Isaacs' safe at night, and did so till he missed tho, watch in question. . The goods were in a carpet bag and box, both of whioh were looked on being put away£ Prosecutor saw tho prisonor a fow days afterwards and accused him of stealing tho broach, but he denied having taken it. Prosecutor then made enquiries of the watchmakers, and found that a man answeriug tlio description of tho prisoner had been offering a brooch for ealo there. Prosecutor again met prisoner, and the latter then said that he had sold tho brooch for 5s to a girl at Mary Ann Smith's public-house. Prosecutor wont there and Baw a girl who denied having purchased any broooh, but in tho meantime prisoner came in and asked the girl .to give up the, brooch, saying that ho would give her back the 5s that she bad paid. The girl still denied having the brooch, but told prosecutor to look on {ho ground as prisoner had perhaps lost it on the night previous. He also lit a piece of candle for the prosecutor to look under the boards of the floor whero she said it might have fallen, but ho could not see it, though Mary Ann Smith subsequently said she found it thero, and handed it to lilin. The broooh produced was the same that ho had lost. Many Ann Smith, the owner of the hotel whore the brooch was lost, proved that the prisoner had offered a broooh for sale similar to the one identified by the prosecutor, but sho declined to purchase it. He did not find the broooh, but tho owner did in her house. She corroborated tho evidence of the proscoutor as to tho scaroh, &c. Tho arresting constable proved that the prisoner, on boing takon into custody, said ho did not think the prosecutor would lock him up for a biooch. Tho prisonor was remanded for the production of further ovidenco. Havinu Stolen Goods in Possession. — James M'Kenna was charged with having stolen property in his possession, knowing the same to bo stolen. Mr Oakes appeared for tho prisoner. At the request of the police tho caso was adjourned for eight days. Tho Court then adjourned.