RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 149, 22 January 1868, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, CHARLESTON.

Monday, January 20. (Before J. It. Button, Esq., R.M.) Margaret Smith was charged with •stealing three £1 notes and some small nuggets from the person of Jolui Carter. From the statement of the complainant it appeared he was in the prisoner's company on Saturday night about 12 o'clock at the Shamrock Hotel, and slept there in the same room with two other men. After stajnng about 5 or G hours he got up and went away to his tent, and there discovered he had lost his money and the nuggets. The prisoner was outside the room door when he got np. The bag produced he recognised as his property, and he also identified one of the nuggets. Cross-examined by the prisoner—l played cards till one o'clock. I never asked you if you wanted money, nor gave you £2 to pay for drinks, nor told you that I would give you a note to send to your children. I never gave you three notes just before going to bed.

James Long deposed that he was a lodger in the Shamrock Hotel, and was in bed when the complainant camp in along with the prisoner ; they were both drunk, and another man named Peter Guy took off complainant's boots and trousers and put him to bed. Prisoner took three £1 notes and a paper containing some nuggets from the pocket of the trousers, and said she would take care of them; she also asked complainant to give her one of the nuggets, but he refused. The evidence of the last witness was corroborated by Robert Kinchlea, who also slept in the house and picked np the chamois leather bag from off the floor next morning.

Henry Dixon deposed he was a publican. At half-past five on Sunday morning the prisoner and Carter knocked at his door ; they were in a state of partial intoxication. After he had served them with several drinks, which the prisoner paid for, she asked him to take charge of £2 to pay the passage of her children from the Grey, but he refused. The Magistrate stated there was not sufficient evidence to send the prisoner to trial, and she was accordingly discharged. His Worship then directed an information to be laid against the proprietor of the Shamrock Hotel for harbouring customers of illfame, and another against Dixon for selling liquors after hours.