R.M. COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2854, 22 March 1888, Page 3

R.M. COURT.

MASTEBTON-THUKSDAY.

(Beforo S. von Sturmer, R.M.)

fa Highway Robbery. Geo. Patterson, an illclad, miser-

able-looting mail, was charged with I having, on the evening of Monday, 19th inst, robbed with violence Edward Jewell of property to tho value of £3lss Cd, the articles consisting of three one pound notes, a pocket book, and a weddiug ring. Edward Jewell deposed, I am a laborer and reside in Maslerton. I know the accused. He was with me on Monday evening, 19th March, between 6 and 7 o'clock, and we were afterwards at the Club Hotel between 9 and 10 o'clock. After we had drank together, the accused said he had two nice little girls down the road, and invited me to go with him to them. I started in his company, and we wont down Perry-sfc., into Clhapel-st., and when opposite the Chinamen's garden I said to accused," You are taking me into the bush," The accused had me by the arm all the time, He in reply to my remark, said," Just round the corner hero," I said, " I won't go further," and I was turning back, flvlicu he caught mo by the throat with one hand, threw me down, and planted his knee on my chest. I sang out " murder," but the prisoner was still (throttling me and my voice failed. He then took my pocket book and contents from my breast coat pocket, Tho Chinamen saw the transaction, but did not como, being frightened, The accused ultimately got off me and ran away. The pocket book, bosides tho ring, contained letters and receipts, and a license of the Club Hotel, Pal* merston. I was not sober at the time but knew what I was doing. Earlier in the evening tho accused and myself had been in tho Queen-street Oyster saloon, and together we kept the man pretty busy opening oysters. After being robbed, I came back to the Club Hotel and showed Mr Elkins tho marks on my throat. That gentleman informed the police, The prisoner bofore the Courtis undoubtedly the same mail as he who assaulted and robbed 0r Cross-examined by accused; You wero in my company from 7 o'clock until 9 or 10 o'clock, The prisoner here romarked to the bench that he could provo an alibi as he was in a boarding-house playing Jl cards for a time between the hours mentioned. Samuel Chaudler, Oyster Saloon proprietor, deposod: The two mon visitedhis establishment between 7 and 8 o'clock on the Monday evening. The accused wag strango in his manner, and was apparently anxious to get his companion away. He also remarked when tho gas was being lit that there was no need for it, and he seemed anxious to keep out of sight. They all went across to Thompson's Hotel and had drinks. The two men then wont away. Sub* sequfintly at 11 o'clock, Jewell recked and said, "You know that fellow who was with me; well lie's gone through me; he's robbed me." The informant then showed ms marks on his throat. Subsequently I recognised the accused at (ho police colls as the man who had been in the oyster saloon and said so, but he remarked j' you m Mistaken yoiuig man." The 4

, informant paid for the refreshments in cash, and ho had a pocket book in his hand with notes in it, Thomas Spain, barman 'at the Club Hotel gavo ovidonce as to the informant and accused visiting that houso on Monday night, After the robbery, the accused, whom ho again recognised, denied, in his presenco, having boon in the hotel on Monday ovening, The defendant had a pocket book with notes in it whon ho visited tho hotel. He had no recollection of ever having seen the accused before Monday night. 6. W. Scadden, a gardener and newspaper-humor, deposed that tho mon wero together at tho Club Hotol on Monday night. Constablo Charles Cooper gavo evidence as to his being on duty on tho night in question and to his receiving intimation of the robbery. He was unablo to find the informant until next day, when he met him on the front verandah of the Club Ilotol. Whilst in conversation with Jewell, accusedjin company with another man came along the street, when he was at once recognised by Jewell as theporsou who had robbed him, Shortly after this witness arrested tho accused for the offence, in the Hub Hotel bar. The latter was also recognised by tho barman as the same individual who was drinking with Jewell on the night previous. When charged with the offence, accused said " You're making a mistake, old man, I wasn't in Masterton at tho time." He then took accused to the police station and locked him up, Subsequently the accusod was identified by Mr Chandler, as being the same man who had visited his oyster shop tho previous night. After His Worship had questioned accused in the usual way, tho latter dalledno evidence but made a rambling statement in which he denied his guilt,

Tho accused was then committed to take his trial, at the next sitting of Supreme Court, which takos place on tho 9th April.