RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 746, 6 December 1870, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Monday, Dec. 5. (Before J. Giles, Esq., E.M.) LARCENY. Annie Conroy was charged, upon the information of John Massey Scott, with having stolen'the sum of three pounds, the property of the informant. Mr Home appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty. The informant stated that he had been a miner and resided in "Westport. Un Saturday he was at the defendant's house in Westport. It was about two or three o'clock. She asked him to shout, and he pulled out some notes giving her one to fetch a bottle of brandy. She asked for the lot which witness refused her. At that time he had, he believed, four one pound notes and three fives. He divided the notes, putting some in each trou-ser-pocket. The defendant put her hands into his pockets and took the money out, hut he recovered the three five-pound notes. Witness did not think that the defendant meant to keep the money. She went to the Eoyal Oak to get the brandy and he followed her. When there the defendant denied having any money whatever belonging to him. Witness then went to the Camp and gave information to the police. He did not think that he signed the charge-sheet. Under cross-examination the defendant admitted that he was not sober, and that he had been drinking on Saturday and earlier in the week. He did not believe he signed any charge sheet, and could not remember having done so. Sergeat Kiely proved that the informant had signed the charge sheet iuthe presence of himself and the defendant.

Eor the defence the evidence of Kate Kent and John Brent was taken. Both witnesses were in the defendant's house when the money changed hands. They both swore distinctly to one pound only having been given to the defendant or having been in her possession on that occasion.

His Worship thought that there was no necessity for Mr Home to address the Court. The admission of the informant as to the condition he was in, and the fact that he was unconscious of having signed the charge against the defendant, left him no other course than to dismiss the information.