ROBBERY FROM THE PERSON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2363, 3 August 1886, Page 2

ROBBERY FROM THE PERSON.

Benjamin Hobbins, alias Home, aim Brummy, was brought up. at the K,M. Court before Colonel. McDonnell and W. rl.Beetham, J.P.'a. charged on snspidgrt with having stolen a watch, value JJ| and pocket book containing £9l7s. from Robert Kershaw, a laborer residing at Glendoiiald. The evidence of Kershaw showed that he had been drinking durin« yesterday, and went into the Prince of Wales' Hotel in the evening. He there shouted for a number of people, accused boingpresent. HetookoufcHiipockot-book containing £9 or £ 10, and-gave accuaod the mortoy to pay for the drinks. He put lub pocket-buok safely into his pocket and laid down on a bench and went t<i sleep. He awoke same time after mi : , discovered that hi i watch had He theu s/ave information to the police. *"' James Percy, laborer of .Glendonald, deposed that he saw accused drinking with the last witness in' the Prince tif Wales, Witness was a mate of Kershaw*. He went into another room and when ho came back an hour and a half afterwards he found his mate asleep on a bench - in tho bar. Ho woke him up and heard him tell the detective, who just-•then came in, that he had lost his watch • and money. Afterwards witness was m the Club Hotel when the detectivo came in and charged accused, who waa there,' with robbing Uershaw. Detected Mctf&b searched accused and found watcUTto him. Witness said "That'Bjimy mate's watch.'' The watch produced wai trip one found on him. Detective M'Grath gave evidence as to finding the watch on, accused in the breast pocket of his coat; When the last, witness recognised it. as that belonging to his mate, accused sam Korshaiv wave him . the watch to keop lor him. Ho theu took accused to thV station, and him up under the present charge. Tfli accused waß convicted at. Wellington' fo™\ larceny on the 24th Novonber, 1884, and was sentenced to six months hard labor. On June 9th. 1883, he wag convicted of larceny, and sentenced to sovett; day's hard labor, lie was a man that. du? not try to mako an honest living/ He hung about bars, and to decoy people outside and rob thaui was his speciality. Tho pocket book and notes nad not been recovered. The accused, who reserved his defence, was duly 'committed for trial.