AN UNUSUAL SCENE IN COURT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1971, 14 November 1889, Page 15

AN UNUSUAL SCENE IN COURT.

iNYBBCAHaiii, November. 6, A charge of larceny against a ©an named Helm aud his wife has been occupying ' the Police Court here for three days, and is : nofc yet; concluded. The prosecutor- Mr Wallis, of Morton Mains estate, alleges' that accused re* moved large quantities of blankets, drapery, stores, &c, from the homestead during this absence in Melbourne. The charge was previously heard and dismissed, both of the accused taking advantage of the Criminal Evidence Act last of session to give evidence on their own behalf. Mrs Helm then swore that the bulk of the goods were given to her by Mrs Wallis, since, deceased, and that the stores, although the same brands as those on the station, were purchased in town. To-day, at the conclusion of the case for the prosecution, counsel for Mr Wallis took objection to accused again giving evidence, contending that the provisions of the act did not extend to a preliminary examination nor to cases before grand juries, and that accused persons could not give such evidence till placed on trial. Mr M'Culloch, R.M., aaid he was inclined to that view himself, but as no ruling had yet been given on the point as raised in the Christohurch Supreme Court recently he did not think he would be | justified in refusing to hear accused, * . t November 8.

After a hearing extending over four dayß the charge of larceny against Helms and his wife was for the second time dismißßed by the R.M, The household goods, groceries, &0., which defendants are accused of stealing from Mr Wallis' houses Morton Mains, were all in court, and after the decision a most extraordinary scene occurred. Accused's solicitor instructed them to remove their property, while the police and prosecutor strove to retain it. Accused and friends carried the stuff to a cab in waiting^ and after the affair was over the room looked like a devastated grocer's shop, the floor and table being strewed with burst packets of maizena, mustard, blue, &c. The quantity of bedding and linen claimed by prosecutor as hia was very large. Mr Wallis will probably apply to be bound to lay an indictment against Helm and wife before the grand jury. They on the other hand are said to be takiqg action for heavy damages for malicious prosecution.