POLICE V. HIDER.

♦ \ At Master ton this morninjr before Messrs T. Duncan and L. J.. Hooper J.P.'s, Peter Hider wasoharged with the larceny of £2 the properly of R. Matoham.

Accused pleaded not guilty, MrW. G. Beard appearing on his behalf. v Sergeant O'Malley in oponing case said that Hider had reported to the police on April 21st that his place had been robbed. ( It was afterwards foumkhata portmanteau belonging to a man named Matchara, who lived with Hider had been robbed of £2. Richard Matchara said he lived with Hider.' He had occasion to go . to work at Carterton, and packed up " his things in a portmanteau. Hider saw witness pack up his things and saw witness place two one pound notes on the Bank of South Wales in a sock in the portmanteau. Hider said the portmanteau would \ be all right, and witness locked it up "f and took tho key On receiving a letter from Hider about the robbery camo to Masterton and found the monoy missiug. Other things in the portmanteau were not touched. To Mr Beard: Witness went to Carterton twelve days' ago. Had been living with accjjsed for tho past three years. Had occasionally before left money in hiß portmanteau. Was always friendly with Hider. Had no reasou to doubt Hider's did not judge Hider at all in « present matter. Had not laid till" present information and did not accuse Hider of the robbery. Was living with Hider now; would not continue to live with Hider if he thought Hider dishonest. Constable Moffatt gave evidence that on accused complaining that his wliare had been broken into, witness went with Hidor and fonnd a portmanteau open but nothing else disturbed. Hider said lie did not know if anything was missing as he did not know exactly what was in tho portmanteau. Hider was slightly under the ihllueuce of liquor. To Mr Beard: Hidor voluntarily • complained of llio robbery, This was the first information the police Athens, April 24, received.

Constable Cooper gave evidence that on the 21st April he metaccused in the street, Accused was not sober. Went with him to the sceno of the alleged robbery. Hider stoutly alleged that he did not know what the portmanteau contained. Hider ajso said that lie had been robbed of sonfct money and in consequence had unable to pay more than ten shillings' out of thirty shillings duo to his employer, Interrogated as to where ho got the ten shillings Hider said he had collected it from subscribers, and later that he obtaiued the money by sweeping chimneys that morning. Hurry Cole, one of the persons mentioned, denied having given Hider three shillings as stated by the latter. Accuied denied having any knowledge of the contents of the portmanteau, and subsequently when Matcham said he was present when tho portmanteau was packed, Hider said ho must have forgotten it. Other things wero not touched.

To Mr Heard: The lock ivas an ordinary oue and easily picked. To Sergeant O'Malley; He was certain no one could have put his hand on the money in the portmanteau without ransacking it.

Alfred Harrison said be was a near neighbour of accused. Did see Hider or anyone else about mk the morning of the robbery. Hiur-s. seen Hider in tho evening, but Hider said nothing about the robbery.

Harry Colo gave evidence that three or .four mouths ago lie lent Hitler three or four shillings but nothing recently. To Mr Beard: Hider had paid him any money he owed. Might have lent Hider a shilling or two on other -occasions. There was no trouble about a horse between Hider or witness.

J. Payton gavo evidence that Hider had reported a robbery at his 1 wliat'c and the loss of certain money. Witness advised Hider to at once report the matter to tho police. To Mr Beard: Had always found Hider trustworthy. Saw no reason to discontinue trusting Hider. To Sergeant O'Malley: Had occasion to talk to Hider about his drinking habits. To Mr Beard: Had some time ago intimated that unless Hider gavo up drinking he (witness) would be compelled to discharge him. v Mr Beard submitted there wnaJl absolutely no ground work to a very serious charge against Hider. The information was not laid by Matcbam, and he asked the Bench whether there was a littlo of evidence to warrant th& charge being brought. Hitler's action altogether was perfectly consistent with that of an honest innocent man. Matcham still belioved Hider to bo honest, and there was not a tittle of evidence to warrant the taking away of Aider's character. It was ridiculous to suggest that because Hider had been addicted to drinking ho was ft thief, Accused called gavo evidence that lie left his house about 5.30 and felt sure that he locked the door. Matcham's portmanteau was open on the bunk when accused returned, but he (Hider) did not touch it, Accused said he did not kuow whether any money was loft in the portmanteau when Matcbam left, Accused borrowed a few shillings from Cole, and had done so at different times when ho was short. J

To Sergeant O'Malley: The bedroom was very small and Hidcr wnkl not in the room all tho time whilS^ Mfttoliam was packing Lis portman\ teau.

Tho Bench said there was not sufficient evidence to convict tho accused, but the police were perfectly , < justified in taking up the case, and everything looked very suspicious about borrowing tho money from Cole. The case would therefore be dismissed.