RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

West Coast Times, Issue 703, 25 December 1867, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before G. G. FitzGorald, Esq., R.M.) Tuesday, December 24.

Drunk asd Incapable. — Richard Williams, Edward Brien, and Henry Brakall were each fined 10s, with tho alternative of four and twenty hours' imprisonment in default of payment. Larceny. — Annie Drummond was charged with stealing 8 dwfcs. of gold and sundry articles of women's wearing apparel, of tho value in tho whole of L 2, tho property of Catherine M'Donald. Mr South appeared for tho prisoner. Catherine M'Donald deposed that she came into town on Friday last from Chesterfield and put up at the Terminus Hotel. Sho g.ive prisoner a bundle for safe keeping. The bundle contained various articles of wearing apparel, and in the pocket of a dress was a chamois leather bag, containing 8 dwts of gold. On tho 23rd inst. witness called for tho bundle, and asked prisoner to fetch it for her. Immediately tho bundle was produced witness noticed that it had been opened. On exauihiiug the contents she missed tho gold, and informed tho prisoner of her loss. Tho witness reported tho matter to the police, and accompanied detective Dyer to tho hotel where prisoner was staying. At the request of the detective witness took the prisoner into a back room and searched her. Whilst witness was searching her sho observed tho prisoner throw something from her. Witness, on raising the pillow of the bed close to where they wore standing, found a purse which she handed to tho dotcctive. Tho witness searched about but did not find tho 4>ther thing prisoner had thrown from her. Whilst witness was searching the prisoner she put her arms round witness 1 neck and said sho would give her L 4.0 if she would say nothing about it. The value of the property that was stolen is ahout L 3. (Tho witness was shown tho and identified ono of the papers it was wrapped in). Detective Dyer deposed that on the 23rd inst. he accompanied the prosecutrix to tho Terminus Hotel, whero ho saw the prisonor. He told her sho was suspected of stealing some gold and wearing apparel from a bundle entrusted to her cai-o by tho prosecutrix. Sho denied all kuowlodge of it. At witness' request proseeutrte and prisoner went into a back room in order that the prisoner might be searched. The prosocutor subsequently handed witnoss a purse containing one pound four shillings, which sho said prisoner had placod under tho pillow of a bed close to whoro they wore standing. Witness also searched the room, and found under one of the corners of the bed somo gold wrapped up in paper, which was claimed by tho prosocutrix. Prisoner ut first douied having any monoy, but sho ultimately claimed tho purse and money.. Cross-examined by Mr South — Witness did not recollect prisoner saying sho had lost her piu-se. She said a sovereign had boen taken out of her purse. In reply to a question put by prisouor's counsel, his Worship stated that sufficient evidence had boen adduced on behalf of tho proseoution to call upon the prisoner for her dofence. At tho request of Mr South the prisoner was remanded till the 27th iust. to enable him to call witnesses on behalf of the prisoner. Bail, prisoner in LSO, and two sureties in L 25 oach.

His Worship disposed of a few undefended civil cases for small debts. Tho oourt was then adjourned till eleven o'clock on tho 26th met.