R.M. COURT

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 2295, 29 August 1889, Page 2

R.M. COURT

MASTERTON-THURSDAi'

(Beforo Messrs Renall' and W. H. Beetham, J.P.'s.) CIVIL CASKS. The following cases were undefended:—L. W, Nicholson v, G. Tait, 3s Gd, costs 6b. Caselberg and J[ Co. v. Carswell, £37 5s 6d, costs £3* lis (Mr Smith for plaintiff.) Heggio ' v. James Waikati, £3los fid, costs £1 9s (Mr Pownall for plaintiff). Caselberg and Co. v. Singer, £2 8s 2d, costs 7s|Mr Smith for plaintiffs.) Shortt and Reid v. Welbon, judgment summons for £4 fo 6d. Mr Smith for plaintiff, and Mr Pownall for defendant, Order for payraeut of 15s per month, in default seven days. Henry Bcntley v. Joseph WesU brook, judgment summons for £l2 9»... Bd. Mr Pownall for plaintiff, who stated that judgment was obtained against Westbrook in April, 1879, for £2J (Is yd and in ton yeara ho bad paid off £l2; Order for 20s poi month, in default H days' imprisonment, . : . (Bofom Oolonol Robevts, K. M.) Breach or- tub Bankhui'iov Act. 0, E, Bookman's adjourned case was resumed this morning, Mi Bunny, as before, appearing for tho prosecutiou, and Mr Beard for accused. Richard Price was tho first witness • called, and said that in couseqnencwtt of what he hcaro ho went aftor Bed™ man on-2-flh July with a view to'• recovering uu account he owed to To Aro House of £U.2s, Saw Bcckman, on tho train ai Kiiripuhi, and applied tohiiu for payniont of tho amount. Becknmn said ho was goiug to To Aro House to pay it, Whilst travelling in the train Bcckman paid him £lO, and witness gave him a clear receipt for tho amount owing, Accusal paid him with a ten pound note?. and said that was all tho money he had, Accused told him ho thought of opening, a blacksmith's shop in JL'ahiatua. Did not see accused leave the train.

F. J. Bright, ra-called by Mi Bunny, said ho obtained the sum of £7 from accused at Fcatborston. Accused said he had hardly enough to . take him to Wellington, Daniell E, Toohill said he was ' landlord of the Universal Hotel which he recently purchased from accused, Mr Bcckman, Uo also bought from him some stock and furniture. Tho sale was completed on July 23, when he drew a chequo for ,£522 19s 6d on the Bank of Australasia, Mastorton. gg Previous to the purcliaso witness', ~i made an estimate of tho value of the stock. Could not give details from momory,

Cross-examined: Purchased theproperty from Mr Bcckman, as I thought, hut found out after that Mrs, Beckman was the owner, and t\ik signed tlie.agrecmdnUnd the transfoif

Mr Bunny objected to tho ovidonco as to the transfer,

C. A, Pownall, solicitor, gavo evidonco as to executing (he agreemeat for tho purchase of : the tJniveraal Hotel from Mr Toohill 'from acciißcd. Was acting for tho purchaser. Ou searching the deeds found the titlo to the land was in, the.namo of Mrs Beckman, and made out the transfer from her to Toohill, Tho sale was completed un the afternoon of tho 23rd July, too late for tho cbequo to be banked that day, William Livingstone Cbrystal, detective, in charge at Auckland, gave evidence as to arresting accused on tho 12th of this month at tho Govornor Brown Hotel in tho city of Auckland, llocognieed accused by description givon witness. Witness said I prosumo you arc Mr Beckman. After some hesitation accused said '• Yes." As accused and witness walked to the police station tho former said he wus not going to leaiwt tho colony and didn't know tho waf rant on which he was arrested was out aqainat him. This whs a voluntary statement of the accused, Arriving at tho atiition witness read the warrant to him and searched him, This was the first time he knew the exact contents of the warrant. At tho hotel witness told him the charge on which ho arrested him, Accused's wife and children were present when witness arrested Beckman, They Inul live or six boxes of various kinds with them. Witness searched tho boxes after he had taken accused to tho police station. The boxes contained clothing and a number of documents. The latter witness returned to accused as they were useles to him as ovidencc, Among tho documents was bank book on tho Mastorton Bank of New Zealand, which witness kept, This showed a balance to accused's credit. On accused's person he found £33 5s lOd. The apparel in the boxes consisted- -d children* 1 womens' and men's clothinjs». Accused wanted to talk to his vTfo int the hotel, but witnuss'said if accused wished to convcrso with hor ho must accompany them to the police station. This ho did, Tho ' £33 5s lOd wua made up of bank notes, silver and coppers, Witness took possession of the money, All the i luggage was carefully picked up and I accused's wife handed witness the [key, The only direction on (he luggage was addressed to Batoman or I Ucckmau, Auokland, When witness got the £'33 odd from accused witness \mi all Hjfl money is nowhere, I

midrrMHiiil you hnve of yon' creditors money■ Accused said when 1 run n\viiy • from my creditors lit Kaiwana ] lost IM. His wifn appealed fidgety and wanted to talk to hiui, Witness than said 1 belieyi your wifo wants to talk to you. Witness said to tho watch-liousc-keckor I think wo will have to send for tho fomaln soarcher, Accused said "I will pay £2OO, amount of warrant/ He tlien auid to licensed " Yon had better liund the money over to (In; detective," Mrs Bookman then tuok from her person, wejpped up in a flannel parcel, £250 'in bank .iotos. The parcel was about eight by ten inches, ami concealed in tho dress 1 . Witness took possession of the money. Tho accused asked that he might now bo discharged as ho had given up all tho money. Witness told him that could only be done on tho recommendrtion of a Magistrate, The case was duly tried it) the It. M. Court, and remanded. The detectives had been on tho look out for accused for some time. Accused said a lot of creditors wcro round him at Kaiwarra, and lie had to bolt, which caused him to lose £350. Witness believed Mrs Beckman wns living at North Shorn. Auckland, at the present, time, By Mr Beard: First made accused aware that he was charged with, felony under tho Bankruptcy Act, absconding from his creditors at the Governor Brown Hotel. Told him thi3 in a the general way. Did mil tell him he whs charged with leaving tho colony. Told accused witness was a detective officer. Head the charge to accused at tho police station, Accused said on the way to the police station, " This is the lirst and knew from my wife that a charge was out against me." By Mr Bunuy; Accused scorned surprised when he was arrested, The statements mado by accused on the way to the station were made voluntary,