RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 964, 23 April 1872, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Monday, April 22. (Before J. Giles, Esq., E.M.) STOWAWAY. Dennis Quinlan was charged with having attempted to evade the payment of his passage money on board the Charles Edward from Nelson to Westport. Evidence having been taken, the Magistrate fined the defendant £5, or in detault of payment one month's imprisonment with hard labor. LARCENY. John Lawrence was charged with having stolen from William Stratford, £24 in notes on the morning of Sunday last. Mr Button with Mr Fisher appeared for the defendant. William Stratford, a dealer at presen residing in Westport, gave evidence that on Sunday morning, after having visited the Nelson Hotel with the accused, had £2l in notes in his "possession. The money was roiled up in a handkerchief and placed in the left breast pocket of his coat. Accused went with witness to show him another house at the back. Witness felt the money in bulk at that time in his pocket, but did not take the money out to look at it. He had looked upon the accused "as a brother," from the fact of his having given him such good advice. The good advice consisted of cautioning the complainant not to lose his money. The accused had only left witness a few minutes when he missed the money. Previous to this defendant had his one arm round witness's waist and another over his shoulder, walking along in a friendly way together. On returning to the hotel witness accused the defendant of having stolen his money, and requested him to return it. Defendant denied having taken the money, but subsequently said rather than see the complainant hard up he would give him £o or £lO. This amount witness refused to take. Three quarters of an hour elapsed between the time he put the roll of notes in his pocket and the time of his missing the money. He was quite sober. By Mr Button : First went to Sheahan's between eight and nine o'clock. Went out for ten minutes to see if the Charles Edward had arrived, and then returned to the same hotel. Did not dance but looked —> at the dancing. During the afternoon and evening he "had a glass of beer, and a glass of gin, and a glass of rum hot. After eight o'clock he only had two small nobblers of sherry until be commenced playing cards, when he had seven more small nips of sherry. He left with the accused to go home with one of the girls who had" been playing cards with them. When the accused was spoken to abont the money he produced two five-pound notes and some change, when witness said that money was not the stolen property. William Newton Meredith, constable stationed at Westport, stated that while he was at the station, complainant gave information against the accused. Both came to the station in company with Fagg, the night-watch-man. Witness searched the accused and found three five-pound notes, one single note, and nineteen shillings in silver. Complainant said that the amount found was not his, as his notes were all one-pound notes. Both the prosecutor and the accused were perfectly sober. William Eagg, gave evidence that while on duty on Sunday morning he saw both men in LytteJton-

street. He heard complainant state in presence of defendant that he had been robbed. Subsequently complainant accused defendant of having robbed him. Mr Button was about to address the Bench, when The Magistrate said there was not sufficient evidence to send the case to a jury, and it was consequently dismissed. CTVIL CASES. Thomas H. Dickinson v. John Mill. £2 Os 6d. Summons not returned; adjourned for one week. Jules Simon v. Frederick Reid and Charles Lucas.' £5 10s 3d for goods supplied. Lucas appeared and admitted , the debt. After hearing the evidence of plaintiff, judgment was given for amount and costs. Suisted Brothers v. R. Waite. £7 17s for goods supplied. Judgment by default. Suisted Bros. v. Jacobsen. £3 Is 9d for meat supplied. Defendant admitted the debt, and was desirous of arranging the matter if he could get his own money in. Judgment for amount claimed. John Hughes v. Thomas H. Harley. £lB 12s. This was an action where a cross summons had been issued. Mr Fisher appeared for plaintiff, and complained of the length of time allowed the defendant to give evidence in ]N T elson. The Magistrate stated that the matter so far as the time was concerned lay with th* l Magistrate in Nelson, and not with him. He would adjourn the hearing of the case here until the 6th of May.