RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, WESTPORT.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 204, 26 March 1868, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, WESTPORT.

Before J. Giles, Esq., M.D., E.M. "Wednesday, March 25. THEFT. Catherine M'Oarthy was brought up in custody charged with stealing £5 note from the person of Augusta Bowden. Augusta Bowden, the complainant, deposed—l am a married woman living in "Westport, at the Quartz Reef Hotel. On Sunday evening prisoner came to the house and had a drink with me, and asked me to go out for a walk. I did so, and had in my possession two £5 notes, and four £L notes On the Saturday previous I had entrusted the money to Margaret Home to keep for me, and I had only got it from her a short time before I wont out. I went to prisoner's house, and she said she had only got 15a. in the house, or she would send for some drink. I gave her a £1 note to change and buy some whiskey with. I had several glasses and got drunk. Whcu I came to my senses I was in bed with prisoner, I told her I had lost some money. She helped mo to search for it. 1 mentioned the loss to a gentleman before I informed the police, I only had one £5 note, and three £1 notes left in my purse, when I missed the other £5 note. I swear the £5 note produced is the one I lost. Margaret Home deposed—l keep the Quartz Eecf Hotel. I know the '■ last witness, she is a lodger of mine. On Saturday she entrusted me with money to keep for her. She gave mo a loose £5 note and a purse with other notes in—one was a £5 I know and some £1 notes, but I do not know the number. The color of the £5 note produced is the same as the loose £5 note she gave me. I returned her the money on Sunday between 1 and 2 o'clock. Siio left my house at G p.m. with prisoner. She slept out all night and did not return until next morning. Prcdci'ick Smith deposed—l am a publican and keep the Imperial Hotel. On Tuesday morning prisoner came to my houso and had a drink at the bar for which she paid me in silver. She went into the billiard-room and had sundry drinks, in payment for which she gave mo a £5 note. The one produced looks like it, but I could not swear to it. I did not know at first it was a £5 note. I thought it was a £1 no to, but on looking and finding it was a £5 I took it back to prisonor and said, " I do not want to rob you—pay me out of some of the £1 notes you have in your hand. She said, " No; change that," —meaning the £5 I had. I changed it, wont into Mr Simpson's, the bootmaker's, directly afterwards to change it again. Soon after the complainant came in and asked if anybody had changed a £5 noto with me. I told her some one had. I sent Gra-

uuii who fetched the- note from Simpion, and she said at first she could uveal* to it. Sho afterwards said she jould not, and did not think it was the mo she had lost, hut afterwards sho said sho could swear to it. Robert Simpson deposed—l am a jootmakcr. I changed a note for Smith, Graham afterwards fetched it. f swear the note produced is the one I changed. I afterwards handed the note over to Sergeant Williams. Sergeant Williams deposed to receiving a note from last witness, and to taking prisoner into custody on a charge of stealing a£s note from the complainant, Augusta Bowden, who gave her in charge. The prisoner made a long rambling statement, the purport of which seemed to he that she had got the money from divers men in Westport in different sums. The magistrate committed prisoner for trial at the next District Sittings of the Court, to be held here on the 7th proximo. The Court then adjourned.