THE HOKITIKA JEWELRY CASE.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 837, 15 July 1871, Page 2

THE HOKITIKA JEWELRY CASE.

Peter De Loree, whose capture by the police at Hokitika was recently announced by telegram, was brought before the Eesident Magistrate at Hokitika on the 4th instant, charged with stealing jewelry at Rosstown, when the following evidence was taken:— Peter Keller deposed that he was a general dealer at Ross. On the 23rd of April, I had in my possession a large amount of jewelry, to the value of about £3OO. The list purports to contain the numbers of the watches bought from Mr Solomon. This silver watch I identify as one of those which I bought from Mr Solomon. The number is 13,593. I identify the trinket as my property. I bought it either from Solomon, or Hayman, of Dunedin. On the silver watch there are two figures on the outside by which I identify it. I will swear that it is one of the watches I bought from Mr Solomon. It was in my possession, in my house, in Bold-street, Ross, on the 22ad April. I identify the necklaces. I produce the cases belonging to them. They fit the cases, and are similar to those I lost. The lady's chain, set with diamonds, is my property. There is. a private mark on it by which I identify it. 1 left ihe house at nine o'clock on the 23rd April. I bolted the back door inside, locked the front door, and took the key in my pocket. I removed no portion of the property between the 22nd, when I last saw it, and nine o'clock on the 23 rd. I believe it was in the same place then. When I came back the door was closed, but unlocked. I struck a match, and saw on the counter my cashbox. The inside tray was out, and the box opened. The silver, from five to seven pounde, was stolen. In the bedroom I observed that some of the jewelry was placed on the bed, some was gone, the case that had contained the chains was on the floor, empty. The chains had all gone. I missed all the property I have described. I know the prisoner. I next saw the property I described in the Inspector's possession. That was on the 2nd July. Prisoner lived about one hundred yards from me. A portion of the jewelry used to be exposed for sale in the shop window in the day time; at night I took it in. I have often seen prisoner in my store before the robbery. Nathan Solomon, sworn, deposed— I am a watchmaker, at present residing in Hokitika. I saw Peter Keller at Ross. I sold him one parcel of watches in May, last year. I identify these watches as some I sold to Mr Keller. All the jewellery I identify as of the same class of goods which I sold to Peter-Keller.—(The witness enumerated each article). Adolphus Trauttvetter, sworn, deposed—l am a watchmaker and jeweller. Knew prisoner. I saw him on 13th June last. I bought some amalgam from him. There were about 16 ozs. I gave him 30s per oz. A few days after that he came into my shop, and asked me if I would buy any

jewellery. I asked him if he had any and he said no, hut he knew a party who had, and would tell it cheap. I told him I would hare nothing to do with it. He did not enumerate the articles.

Solomon Marks, sworn, deposed— I am a tobacconist, residing iu Revel 1street. I know the prisoner. On Monday, June 19th, I saw him in my shop. It was between 8 and 9 o'clock that he came into my shop. He said will you buy the jewelry that was stolen from Peter Keller at Ross. I said I would. I asked him what they consisted of, and he said every article in the list given by the police except the chains, which J have melted. He left my place about ten minutes to eleven in the evening. He then asked me if I was willing to buy the goods. I said I was. I asked him what he wanted for them, and he said he would take one-half of what they were marked on Keller's list. He said he would not give me nor the police the chance to get it, but he would take me any night to where the goods were, but I must be prepared with the money. On the Friday evening he came to my shop again, between 8 and 9 o'clock. He asked me if I was prepared to take delivery of the goods. 1 said I was. I went with prisoner past Kelly's Tramway Hotel np to Anthony Marley's back door. He told me to stay there while he went for a candle. I waited until after 9 o'clock, but he did not come back. At 10 o'clock he came into my shop again, and he said " did you see detective Browne watching us ?" I said I did. He said don't mind I will get them for you. He gave me the description of how the goods were wrapped up in two pieces of oilskin. I asked him how he came to get the goods, and he told me he had watched Mr Keller, packing up the goods for several nights, and he had got a key which fitted the door. He expected to find some more money, but he only found some silver. He told me he had melted the chains, and he felt very sorry for melting such fine goods, but he was hard up and wanted money. I have known prisoner only while be was residing at Eoss. 1 was residing there at the same time prisoner was. He used to come into my place to buy tobacco. I gave information to the police on the morning following the first day, after the first conversation with the prisoner. John Keller, sworn, deposed: I reside with my mother in Tancred-street north. I remember Saturday week. On that morning, between eight and nine I was searching for eggs next door to our own house. I found a shiny parcel. I went to my mother, and said this will do for a table cloth. My mother opened it. A case dropped out like the one produced. I saw some watches, and a long chain. I took it down to the camp, and handed it to the police. Afterwards, the same morning, I received a parcel from detective Browne like the one I found. I put that parcel in the same place that I took the first parcel from. Richard M'Cormick, sworn, deposed: lam a police constable. On the night of Saturday, the 24th June, I was concealed in a fowl house in Tan-cred-street, near the boy Keller's house. I was watching a parcel con.cealed under a house. About half-past eleven p.m. I heard a footstep as of a man. The man stopped when he came opposite to the side where the parcel was placed. There was a fence between the man and me. I stooped down, and saw a man's hand passing into the hole towards where the parcel was placed. I heard a noise as of the oilskin knocking against the boards. I then ran into the street, and I saw a man walking away very fast. I followed him, and found it was the prisoner. He was about eight or ten paces from the hole when I first saw him. "When I came near prisoner I told him to staud, and he turned round and put up his hands. I then arrested him. I found nothing in his possession. I then took him to the camp. In company with Sergeant White I took the prisoner back to the place. I searched the hole, but found nothing in it. I brought prisoner back to the camp again. I returned to the place, and found a parcel about twenty feet from the hole. I was in the street. I had to open a gate before I could get into the street. There was no person there but the prisoner. I opened the parcel, and found the waich produced. Charles Townley Browne deposed: I first arrested prisoner on suspicion on May 14th. I asked him if he had any gold, and he said he had. I took a lump of gold from the pocket of his coat. I told him I believed that it was some of the jewellery stolen from Mr Keller, melted down. He said it was not; that he had found it in the fire at Westport, and that be had re-melted it dowß. I asked him what quantity of gold was in it, and he said about 16 ozs. I locked him up, and proceeded to Ross, and searched his house. In the house I found a crucible on the mantel-piece; it had the appearance of having been used. At the back of the house I found a small furnace made out of an oil can, with a shade over it to throw the heat down. It bore the appearance of having had a very strong fire in it. I took a key from a door in the prisoner's house, and proceeded to Mr Keller's store. I got Mr Keller to lock the front door, and unlocked it with the key I got from prisoner's house. I handed the key over to the Sergeant-Major. From the back of Marley's stable to the house where the boy Keller lived would bo between twenty and thirty yards.

Cross-examined by prisoner: There wa» something peculiar in the key R found in your house. The wards ap-\ peared to have been pinched closer to ' each other. I have seen many similar keys, but ]' don't know that I ever saw one with that peculiarity. In answer to the usual question, the prisoner declined to make any statement. Prisoner was then committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, holden at Hokitika. Bail would be taken, himself in £2OO, and two sureties of £IOO each.