RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, HAMILTON. Yetterday.—[Before H. W. Northcroft, Esq., R.M.]

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1432, 6 September 1881, Page 2

RESIDENT MA GI S TR ATE'S COURT, HAMILTON. Yetterday. — [Before H. W. Northcroft, Esq., R.M.]

Larceny. Thomas Walsh, a laborer, was charged with having on Sunday, the 28th ultimo, at Ohinewai, near Ranginri, stolen certain articles of wearing apparel, including a pair of trousers, a pair of drawers, vests, socks, &c , of the value of £& 13s, the property of one William Birrs. Sergt. McGovern conducted the prosecution, and the prisoner, who was undefended, pleaded guilty. Sergt. McGovern detailed the circumstances of the oase, which were as follows :—lt: — It appears that the prosecutor employed the prison'T at so much per week to do some work for him, and when lie had been with him about a fortnight they arranged that he should go on with some other job at a contract price. On the Sunday referred to, prosecutor, who in addition to farming keeps a store, and his fcimily left home for the day, leaving the prisoner about the premise*. On their return in the evening they noticed that the window of thestore bore theappearance of having b^en opened, but they did not miss anything till Monday, when MrJBirrs disco veied the loss of the articles produced. The place where prisoner slept was searched, but nothing was found, and Mr Birrs then communicated with Constable Hammond, stationed at Njraruawahia, who went down in plain clothes on the day prisoner was discharged from prosecutor's employment. Taking up a position in hiding at some distance from the house, the constable saw Walsh leave and make for somB bush in the neighbourhood, whence he fetched a swag containing the stolen goods. The constable then arrested him. The prosecutor was questioned by the Magistrate, and corroborated the Sergeant's statement. On being asked if he had anything to say, the prisoner admitted having entered the store by the window and taking the articles produced, which he said he was badly in want of, and had not touched anything else in the store. He was willing to pay for what he had taken, aud hoped his. Worship would deal leniently with him, ah this was his first offence The prosecutor said that there was a sum of £11 in a box in the i-toro at the time the prisoner made his enhance, which remained untouched. His Worship in passing sentence said the crime was a very aggravated one. The prisoner had been left, to a pertain extent, in charge of the prosecutor's premises, and he had broken his trust It was necessary that he should be punished as a -warning to others who might be similarly placed, tie would s"nd the prisoner to Mount Eden gaol for two months, with h<ird labour.