SINGULAR THEFT.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1350, 24 February 1881, Page 2

SINGULAR THEFT.

A lawyer's elet k named F. J. Haman vus chaiged betoie Col. Lyon and Mr G-Liihciiri, J.P., who presided at the Resident t\lagistiate& Court on Tuesday, with the theft of a number of documents valiud tit the nominal sum of 20*, fiom ihe office of Mr W. Macgregor Hay, solicitor, Cambridge. It appears from the evidence that the accused had been employed in the office of the pro.secutor, aud that some time ugo he had been auspeuded in consequence of iriegulanties in liX habits. The iriegularities continuing lie was finally discharged tne seivice lass Fuday, and another party ippo nted to take charge of the office in Ins stead. Hainan applied to his successor for ceitaiu documents, and on being refused he proceeded to the innei office and took iorc.ble po -session of them. In cross ex.imiudtion by the accused, it was elicited that the p.ipars in que-t'ou lefeiied to the land claim of a native, and that in making his demand foi them, accused alleged that ho had been aulhoiisod to do so by the native. —Mr Hay said there could bo no question but that the papers were His property, still ho d J d not wish to piesM the charge to a conviction, Accused had beeu in his employment six mouths, and until recently had conducted himself properly. If the Benoh were hatihfied a thei't had been committed, it was still within their pre vince to discharge the piisouer; and iv support of that contention he quoted fiom the Justices of tho Peace Act, wherein it was laid down that, if the articles purloined did not exceed the vaiue of "20s, and the Justices were otherwise satisfied the circumstances were of a trivial nature, the Justices had the power stated. He fuithtr argued ,hat the crossexamination -ho wed accused imagined he h.xd borne kind of right to the papers, and he wdh quitts willing he should have the benefit ot the doubt arising theiefioni. — The Bench baid they would take a lenient view of the case, and adopt the nuggestiou put forwaid by Mr Hay, viz , that accused imagined ho had some sort of right to the pio oeity. It was very evident, howevei, he had no such right, and he might think himself very lucky in getting off as he did. The case would be dis-miS'-ed.