THE BURGLARY CASE AT HAMILTON EAST.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2107, 9 January 1886, Page 2

THE BURGLARY CASE AT HAMILTON EAST.

Vrthe Hamilton Police Coiut on Thurslay, before Mr H. W. N.-rthcroft, K.M., Matthew Ryan, a youth 17 veais of _ age, was charged on remand with that he did ou one night of the 2Gth, 01 the morning of che 27th December, brealc into the house oi .me Maurico Kiely, at Hamilton East, and *real theref i oin the sum of £8 4s. Sergt.-Major McGovorn conducted the prosecution, and briefly Minnnaribed the reatures of the case. He then called Maurice Kiely, who deposed : I am a -.ettler residing at Hamilton E ist. I know iccused, who resides ne\t door with his parents. Ou the 2(sth December I went away to a wedding, leaving no one in the house. The doors were locked and the windows shut, but not fastened. I retained home at about 2.30 o'clock on the following morning. Found the house had been pntered, and a sum of money, consisting of eight £' notes, half-a-erown, two threepenny-pieces, and a shilling, stolen. [ last saw the money about 12 o'clock on the Saturday. It was kept in a small box •m thB chest of drawers in the front bed room. The money was not marked, and I could not identify it. I uiUsed nothing e,lse, and the house was not disturbed in any way. When I missed the money I went to Constable Murray and reported my loss, the constable came to my | house, and together we searched for footprints. The ground round about was sanded, and we discovered the murks of a boot of which we took particular notice. The sketch on paper produced is a pretty exact copy of the print. Prisoner's father and mother and my wife weie present when we examined the ground. I did not s«e i the accused there, but I saw him there the previous day. I have seen him bince, but have not spoken to him fuither than to bid him the time of day. At the time of the robbery I did not suspect anyone in particular, but I made every enquiry, and did my best to assist the police to hud the guilty paity. I have seen the money since. It was brought home to me by accused's mother on the Wednesday after Boxing Day. By Sergt. -Major McUovern : Are you ■one' you did not get it on Sunday night last. Witness : I am. Mr McGovein: You say you did your best to assist the police. Did you tell Constable Murray that you had the money on Saturday last ? Witness : I did not. j The magistrate warned witness to be careful. Witness continued: Mrs Ryan came about 5 o'clock on the Wednesday night, and paid the money to my missus. I was present. The money consisted of seven £ notes. She said she would pay the remainder, 24s more. This balance was paid to my inisBiis this morning in my presence. I did not tell the constable on Saturday that I had received the money, because Mrs Ryan had asked me to keep the matte.r quiet, and not to have any more bother about it, and I did not know better. No one had any authority to open any windows or doors and go into my house. Margaret Kiely, wife of the last witness, gave corroborative evidence. She saw the money about 5 o'clock on the evening of the 26th. Returned home at between half-past two and three o'clock in the morning of the 27th (Sunday) in company with tho father and mother of the accused, who had also been to the wedding. Saw the front door was open, and at once remarked that she supposed the house had been robbed. Mr Ryan heard the remark. She lighted a candle and went to the money-box, and then to the kitchen, when she saw that the window was open. The money was gone. She informed Mrs Ryan, and saw that the accused was in bed. Mrs Ryan woke him to ask if he had seen any one at witness's house, and he replied in the negative, but said some of the other childi en had heard the dogs barking. Looked for footmarks and found some similar to sketch produced. Seven pounds of the money was returned to witness by Mrs Ryan, to the best of her belief, «>n Wednesday evening, the 30th December. Mrs Ryan mud her aon had Uken the money. Ine balance was paid that morning. Tuey had kept the matter quiet, as they did not wUh to expose the boy. James Missen, bootmaker, deposed that he sold accused <i |> ur of b iots on the 19th December last. They were light watertights, nailed. The bouts produced were similar to those sold to ju-'.-uswJ. Some of the nails appealed to have been drawn out recently. Constable Murray deposed : On the morning of the 27th, at about half-past three, Kiely called me up and reported that his house had been broken into, and that a sum of money had been extracted therefrom. 1 went to the house some time after daylight and examined the place inside and out. I found footprints at the back, and took a rough sketch «f them. I made enquiries, and from information received, I arrested the accused on Monday, the 4th inst. 1 charged him with the offence, and cautioned him in the usual manner. He said, "You have made a big mistake this time," and added that he was asleep in bed at the time. I took him to the lock-up, and examined the boots he had on, but they did not agree with my information, and I told him 1 was going to his mothers' for the other pair. He then said, •• Well, I did take the money, but the matter has been settled." I asked him what he meant by these words, and he said, "My mother paid the money back to Mrs Kiely last night." I left him in the lock-up, and went over to his mother's house. I asked for a pair of boots, describing them, and she at first said there were no such boots in the house, but after a little conversation, she gave the boots produced. Afterwards prisoner said be had " only done all this for a lark." Between the 27th December and the 4th January, I had several interviews with Kiely. On the 2nd of January (Saturday), I had a long conversation with him at his house. I asked him if he could throw any further light upon the matter, and he said he could not, that be had heard nothing more about it. Cross-examined : I never knew of anything against you before. This closed the case for the prosecution. Prisoner, who said he had taken the money, but not with the intention of keeping it, was then committed for trial at the ne*t criminal sittings of the Supreme Court at Auckland. Bail was allowed, prisoner in £50, and two sureties of £25 each.

" Oh, ma, don't you thiuk Mr Slimkins bas most excellent timbre of voice ?" " Timber ?la that it ? I wondered what gave it that sort o' wooden, like souud." — Chicago Newe. The attentioß of doe owners in Hamilton, is directed to a notice in another column. Mr J. F. Cocks, auctioneer and mining agent, &n, To Aroha, has several first-class properties for salo, also for sale or to let two or three hotel? doing a good business,