R. M. COURT, HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 741, 17 March 1877, Page 2

R. M. COURT, HAMILTON.

(Before Colonel Lyon, J P, and Captain Macpherson, J P.)

March 15th, 1877.

Mary Ann Roper was charged on the information of Constable John Brown with having on or about the 10th inst stolen from the house of A 0 Field, of East Hamilton, a gold ring- and wearing- apparel to the value of _£4 10.

Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Arthur Osgood Field,school teacher, Hamilton East, deposed that he engaged the prisoner about the end of February in Auckland, first as a washerwoman and afterwards when about to procc3d to Waikato as a general servant. On the 11th inst, having reason to suppose that Mrs Roper had stolen the articles mentioned in the information, he made search and found them missing. He informed Mrs Roper that they were gone and told her that they would have to be produced or that he would communicate with the police. -She did not produce them. The following day she left the house at 5 pm. The same evening he saw her in East Hamilton and spoke to her in reference to the missing property. She said she would go back with him to the house and show him her things to prove that she had not stolen them. Instead of going all the way she turned off by a bye road and he had not seen her since.

Cross-examined —He and Mrs Field had, as a rule, been absent at school during the day, and the prisoner had been left in sole charge of the house.

Emma Cockhead deposed that she lived at Hamilton East. On Monday, the 12th inst., at about 1 o'clock, the prisoner came to her house, and asked witness to permit her to leave the kit now before the Court in her charge. Witness allowed her to do so. Constable Brown called the sums evening, at 7 o'clock, and asked for the°kit, which witness gave to him. He called the following morning, and searched the house, but foiiDd nothing.

Cross-examined by Constable Brown — You turned out the kit in my honse, and the articles produced, viz., 1 Ladies Journal, 2 pieces of satin trimming, aud 1 piece of black braid were in the kit. I did not put these articles in the kit. I was washing for Mrs Field on Thursday fortnight, Mrs Roper was there, and on the following day. Mrs Neilson's son asked me to go to Mrs Field's to wash.

Emma Field being sworn, stated —She was the wife of A 0 Field, a preceding witness. The articles enumerated in the information now shown to her were missing from her house on the 11th inst. Since that date she had found the child's pelisse mentioned. The prisoner was in entire charge of the house while witness was at the school, since the end of January. Witness missed the ring and night-dress shortly after that time. With respect to the nightdress, prisonef^ had told witness that she, prisoner, was under the impression that it had been left in Auckland. She had never authorised the engagement of Mrs Cockhead as washerwoman, and had not paid her for her services. Witness was not at home the day Mrs Cockhead came to wash at her house. Previous to Mrs Roper's engagement with her, witness had lost a child's frock and a pair of kid gloves. The case was dismissed.