Before the Court.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4972, 11 March 1895, Page 2

Before the Court.

1 Roderick McKenzie was charged, r 1 beforo Messrs T. E. Price and C. Hughes, J.P.'s, that ho did, on the ; 2nd day of March instant, at Mas- ! terton, tbiove from the person of onp ' Betsy Reynolds, one handbag M puree containing 3s in silver, Hel' ' property. Also, that he did, during tho night of the otli llaitih instant, at Mastorton, feloniously and burglariously break into and enter the Railway Station, with intent to steal aad thieve, and did steal one overcoat, valuo 20s, the property of R. A. Davys. Also, that ho did, on the 23rd January last, at Poiniw Halswell prison, when a prisoner* undergoing aseutence-oftwoyeaiV* for breaking aad entering-nnlaw-fully escape from legal custody. When the accused was brought into Court, he looked round sullenly, and on being placed in the dock, fixed his eyes on the Clerk, who read ou6 tho first chargo as above to which lie pleaded guilty. In reply to the Bench accused quietly replied that he wished to be 1 dealt with by the Court, SorgeantMcArdlesaid thoprisoner having pleaded guilty, it won id simplify matters, if Mi's ReymA were not called. The Bench said as accused was al> ready serving another sentence, and as the police did not wish to press the chargo, a sentence of 14 days would bo inflicted. The second charge was read. Sergeant McArdle said that to had seen the crowbar afterwards used on the safe at the Railway Sfca* tion near the Waip'oua bridge, near where the accused was , seen. Had been stolen, and a coat from tha

Railway Station, which accnsed was wearing when taken into custody. Benjamin Coubourne, stationmaster, gave ovidonceof the robbery similar to the accounts already published' and stated further that the overcoat of tlio goods clerk, Mr R, A. Davys, waß missed on Saturday morning, The coat produced in j&pourt was tho one. Had never seen accused before. R. A. Davys, gave corroborative evideuci and identified as his property the ovorcoat produced, which he had missed from the office. To the best of his belief the coat was in the office on Monday last. Sergeant McArdle gave an account of the robbery. Accused admitted having taken the coat from the station on the same night as he had effected the entrance there. He had also admitted having burglariously entered the railway station, After being cautioned the prisoner declined to make any statement, and was committed for trial. On the charge of illegally escaping from Point Halswell prison, the accused was remanded to Wellington.