"THE THIEF OF TIME."

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4972, 11 March 1895, Page 3

"THE THIEF OF TIME."

£ STEALING A CLOCK. James Patterson, alias Donaldson, t and William Higgins, alias O'Brien, ■m Price, etc., etc., were charged H*t Mastcrton this morning, before Messrs Hughes and Price, J.P.'s, with stealing a clock valued at 20s, from the auction rooms of Messrs Lowes aud lorns Accused Higgins pleaded not guilty, Patterson pleading guilty to receiving tho clock from the other prisoner. The offence was proved by Constable Lawlor who witnessed the theft by Higgins who handed the clock to Patterson. The accused Higgins, in an in-jured-innocent tone of voice, protested his innocence, and said he had a witness to call. Lewis M. Holmes, storeman at Messrs Lowes and lorns' auction mart, was called, and identified tho > clock. Charles Gurate,called by Higgins, said that accused came into the sale room, and wishing to sit on the table accused moved the clock back, but what became of the clock after that he could not tell. (Laughter,) Had seen Higgins before. Sergeant McArdle: " Where ?" BkGurote: "In Wellington Gaol!" " Sergeaut McArdle: "That will do thanks." Both accused made rambling statements, incriminating each other. In reply to the Bench, Sergeant McArdle said Patterson was not known to the police. Tho Bench decided to sentence Higgins to six months' hard labour, as ho was not safo to be at largo, having so many previous convictions against him. Patterson would bo sentenced to three months as nothing was known against him. Higgins was removed from the Court protesting loudly against tho treatment he had received.