The Strawbridge Cases.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1399, 8 June 1883, Page 3

The Strawbridge Cases.

CARTERTON—TfIIS DAY, (By Telegraph,) On the Court opening in tho case of Joseph Strawbridge, Detective Chrystal applied for a remand for eight days as he thought lie could get further information. He had got further evidence implicating the wives of two of the prisoners, and summonses were served on them last night. The Court decided that it would go on then and see what evidence-was produced as to the charge of stealing laid against tho wives. If satisfied that further evidence could be produced it would grant a remand,

Joseph Strawbridge was'then charged with receiving corsets, knowing them to be stolen, He pleaded not guilty. George Matthew Gardener sworn, .deposed: lam a storekeeper residing' at Cartenton, and remember the 4th May, I missed a pair of corsets last month about that lime. I have since seen thorn, when I went to Strawbridge's farm last Sunday. Constable Eccleton asked me if I identified the corsets. It was at Eli Strawbridge's house I saw them, I believe the accused lives with him, I do not remember if defendant was present at the time. The corsets were in a bedroom. Defendant was in the house when I weDt there. To the best of my belief he was present. I saw a pair of corsets which I identified as having been in my possession, and'as my property, by my brother's mark inside, T can now identify them Marked 5/9, the mark dividing the figures being somewhat indistinct, the mark and figures being inpencil. The line cannot be seen, but I identify them by the figures 5 and 9. I know my brother's writing marked on one of tho busks, (Corsets produced), those are the same as I saw. The selling value is Ss 9d. I did not sell them to my recollection.' I have my day book in Court, The accused runs an account with me. I render accounts. Can tell by that account whether I sold corsets to him; (referred to day book J. Strawbridge's account.) There are no corsets charged to his account during May last.

To Mr Beard: The book produced was his day book, • Could produce ledger if required, To Detective Chrystal: There is uo entry of corsets as sold. To the best of my belief these corsets were never sold, ■

Air Beard at this stage objected to leading questions. Witness to Detective: Constable Eccleton asked mil if I identified the corsets. I said I did. I believe that was all I said before the accused. I do not remember that the accused said anything. To Mr Sandilaids; I am sure the corsets came from.my store. I got six from a wholesale house, and have one left. -Four were sold to the best of my belief. This pair were stolen. The Strawbridges' wives were both in my store about the tiniel missed them, about 4th May. Airs Joseph and Airs Thomas Strawbridge were in the store about that time, purchasing articles. I can tell by my book what they bought, The articles purchased by Mrs T. Strawbridge, 011 the-4th of May were booked to her husband, also to J. Strawbridge.,; Both have purchased for cash small articles such as lollies, but were not in the habit of doing so. jP purchased corsets from an wholesale.house last November. Alyself and two brothers and sometimes my mother sell in the store, but my mother- very seldom does so, The female Strawbridge's bpth purchased corsets at the store. I can produce mv book shewing all goods sold to Airs Joseph Strawbridge. They had not many transactions with mc. : I should not make an entry if the corset was sold for cash, If it was sold for cash I could not say who bought it as I shouldnot make no entry, I had a sale there, but these goods were brought back and laid on the Carterton Store counter, All six corsets were of the same kind, but of different sizes. ; I' identified these as I. took them off the line at Waihenga. The price was ' the aame in eacli , case no natter the size, These wove the only, red pair sent to Waihenga, Mrs Joseph Strawbridge- has purchased several pairs of boots 1 at;store.. Both women generally came together; I never recollect any time when cash was paid down for boots. Neither Mrs Joseph or Thomas Strawbridge 'have ever, purchased corsets like these 'from me. To the best of my belief these corsets were stolen, I have not jaid the information; Detective asked me more than once ,to' do 'so, but' I declined, 1 i dori'fc ■ jthink;; waa were misfied, but have had dealings •with accused. He has bought things,

as a rule he did not pay cash, he • at J : times paid for tobacooj but he;has not ovei' paid 'for, articles of female apparel, | He nasinot bought clothing from me,; but his wife has for him/ \ These goods were - generally booked.; My' May account has not been rendered,; I can produce the account as it stands in the ledger.

To Dotective Clirystal: The accused was under .firrest and, at the] Police Station when you asked me to lay an information. These corsets were not sold by me. , Charles Gardener, storekeeper, said: I recollect about May things, being missed, and among others a pair, of corsets, The corsets wero marked 5s 9d by me, in pencil. I had these corsets. at Waihenga, I only had a few pairs marked; at all. I had only one pair thew like .these—that is. the pair I missed from Carterton; they are markod on ,tho busk. . These are the corsets l marked and missed. I never remember selling them, I missed them shortly after I came from Waihenga, They were with others I brought up. All I brought up were put on the Carterton counter, These were the only pair of the kind. I missed them when I was going through the goods and putting them straight. The. goods caine up before mo. I came to. Carterton on the first of May, and missed them. •, The women Strawbridges were in a fow days after I came up. I could not swear whethor the corsets were oil the counter when the Strawbridge's wives : were in the shpp. I could not • say.■■ whcfchoi I missed the,stays before or after they' were there. I put the goods down in the book when they, bought them, they would liave been marked there if sold, To Mr Beard: Jf they were sold that

day, they would have been in the; account, but iiot if sold by cash, Make no entry of cash sales. To the best of my belief I did not sell them, I have only seen two pairs. These corsets wore marked by myself, Those are my figures, . The 3 above the size looks like ray 3. Could not swear to it. These stays were sent to me, and brought from Waihenga by my brother, I saw them on the counter as marked, All'were lying open, I saw prices marked. Canjiot,swear I saw three— I may havo. I rolled up several things with this pair, Only ono was marked with the price. I could not swear if Allen's we much like them, Could not swear : which end of the counter I rolled them-up;on. I served the Strawbridges' wives only once in May,when I made any eiitry. I believe they were in at other times, I commenced putting straight a day or two after I came up, Can't swear to the day I missed them, I was getting some for Mrs Field, and then noticed they were gone, To the Court: I sold stays to Mrs Field at 6s 8d that will fix the date;, they are entered in the book,

To Mr Beard: The last time I sold to them was about January. Went to Waihenga then. Have ofton seryed them. My brother keeps the accounts. 1 have seldom sold for cash. ■

To Detective' Chrystal: I was absent from the Carterton store about January. Basil Gardener, salesman in his brother's store, deposed: I don't remember missing anything from the store. I remember the two Strawbridegs' wives being in the drapery part in the beginning of May about half an hour purchasing. I never sold any goods to them. I sold no corsets at any time to them. To Mr Sandilands: I did not miss anything, They often come to the shop. I have sold occasionally to them. They never paid me cash for more than a shilling. I have sold as much as ten shillings worth at one time. When I saw them in May last Obarlie was serving them. lam not prepared to say they took these corsets,

Constable Eccleton, of Greytown, deposed: I went to Waihakeke last Sunday with a search warrant to Eli Strawbridge's house, Joseph Strawbridge was living there. I saw him in a bedroom in the house, He said the room and things in it were his.' I found the; corsets produced. The accused was near whon I found them, I called G. Gardener in to the room, Accused was there. G. Gardener identified them as having been taken from' his store; The accused said nothing. I'found'the corsets, in the chest of drapers in accused's room, To Mr Sandilands!. Aui a married man, - They appear new, They were in the drawers among pieces to make female attire, (Corsets inspected by the Bench,) , !

Mr Boys: In my opinion they have not been worn. ; ■ '

Constable Eccleton; The piecus of material for dresses I took possessionof. They are in Court. 1 ! Detective Chrystal deposed; lam a detective, ; on duty in the Wairarapa, •! went on Sunday to, the house occupied by the. accused. The constable found the stays knd corsets identified by Air Gardener. I; gave. the .accused tlje usual caution. The accused said: ";I suppose 1 1 must- go too."' Some one said "Why!" He said, "'Because this is my room,'and these things are in, my possession." 'His brother was arrested : before. I. said,' '! Yes, yo;u are arrested for felony." ,•1, 'To"Mi"BeardVl don't know who made,the reuiavk. Eccleton, Darby, and, myself , were in the room at the time: also Gardener, Allen, and accused. I saw tlie wife of the accused afterwards. I don't think; she was in the room. Eli had been arrested; the mother was in the house. I think Joseph knew Eli w,as arrested,,, I do not'know if Joseph, was present at the time of the arrest, . .•/ j Mr Sapdilands held there was np case. The theftywas not proved, Gar•defafflr prosecute, ahd it'was only Relieved .the' things were' 'stolen', They maybe in' an 'account notyel rendered.' This was a fair .belief, as an account was. run at Gardener's, He (Mr Sandilands) held;,that the goods had been purchased in. the usual way!: that theie' : 'was for fraud t and that of 'OMrystal was rather in accused's favor. ;alt, Thferfe''was no evidence /whatever, to, .connect him sith the stealing., 1 The Court took this view of the matter,, and dismissed the information,