POLICE COURT.—THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1371, 2 July 1874, Page 2

POLICE COURT.—THIS DAY.

(Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., R.M.) BUTJNK LAST NIGHT. John Thomas Steer and John Gorman were charged with drunkenness. Steer, who did not appear, forfeited his bail, and Gorman, who had kicked up a row at the railway station, bub who promised never to get drunk again, was discharged. THE KEXOWKED JOHN WALSH. John Walsh was charged with being drunk, and with wilful injury to property, he having on the evening of the Ist instant torn an overcoat literally to pieces, the property of Mr Thomas Lift, while assisting Constable Clark to secure the burly prisoner. Prisoner, a desperate looking character, with a pair of fine black eyes, pleaded gnilty to being terribly drunk. He had been keeping his birthday, bufc he did not remember tearing Mr Lift's coat. He could not tell. His memory was at fault. Prisoner was fined Is and costs, and 30s the value of the coat, or go for a short time to Mount Eden.

JOHN PJN'KEY. This man, a seaman of colour, was charged with disobedience of lawful commands on board the brig Minova. Mr Joy appeared for prisoner, who pleaded not guilty. The case was remanded until Saturday. Alleged Incendiarism. Alexander Brown, on remand, made his appearance on a charge of attempting to set fire to the premises of Must aud Co. on the 11th inst. . Mr Brookfield appeared for tho Crown, Mr Heskcth for tho Insurance Companies, and Mr Joy, Mr Rccs, and Mr Meyer for the prisoner. The usual interest was manifested in this case, and the Court was well filled with persons who seemed to have nothing better to :30. James Wilson, lodging-housekeeper, in Wel-lesley-street, remembered the 11 th inst. and deposed : 1 was at the corner of Mr Williams' 3tore, the sail-maker, corner of Fort-street. I was in company with two men at the time when 1 heard the cry of fire. McMahon was the name of one of the men; the name of the other Ido not know. I did not see any one run round Philips' corner. Had any person run round I believe I must have seen such person. There were several persons in the street before and behind. The alarm of fire came round from Shorfcland-street. I heard the fire-bell immediately after. James McMahon, sawyer, deposed. I live in Wellesley-street, and was in company with the last witness in Queen street on the night of the fire. I heard the cry of fire when opposite Mr Cooley's, the ironmongers. I had some from the wharf. I did not see. any person run round Shortland-street towards Fort-street or I must have met the person. To Mr Rees : I saw people near Somerville's corner going towards the fire. As 3oon as the cry of fire was raised the people began to rush towards the spot where the alarm was heard. lam prepared to say that no man turned out of Shortland-street into Jueen-street just before the fire-bell rang, f Walter Watson, the next witness, was ailed, but was not present. A constable las immediately sent after him. |Mr Edward Bartley deposed: lam a builder, .§1 carrying on the works at the General •%t Office. I have a man in my employ i%ied William Christie, a stone-mason. On t^i 17th of June my attention was called to a Mdle by the clerk of the works, named H|rall. The bundle was open, and lying on ontof the stones in front of the building. It ws|placed there by a man named Patteson. Asfer as I can remember the bundle contaiw. some pieces of dirty linen, some bits of ne"baper, and'a lamp wick; but I did notVminutely examine the contents. I gathW the bundle together and gave it to dete| YesVes Jeffrey and Tarnahan. The bundle (Pr. o"ped) is the same, and the piece of calicqformed the wrapper. A quantity of flaggil and Hobart Town stone square was Jyi 0g ixt the enclosure, not touching the hoardi I drew a plan of the place on tho day of \ e finding of the bundle to refresh my I mi? Or| * h. ave no doubt of tQe accuracy. a, srs*"P5 rs*"P sa*d that Mr Bartley's pi an • W? 3 !, h€| ost useful thin S that had yet been mtroduct. It had removed from his mind certain ebneous impressions as to the exact spot of tflfiading of it. ■ Mr Ba% continued : The bundle would have beenV, a Rxea t extent sheltered by the hoarding * the stones in the spot where it W m d ™C0 T T d fey the side of tfae building. lo Mr ±a s ; i ,j 0 nofc think it could have .been there W O r five days without getting wet. 1 hel had been a good deal of rain. It any persfi walking on the top of the stones had \ o ked straight down he must have seen th&undle, especially if searching as there was fohing to interrupt the view! JLwo or three i» n were engaged in moving the stones-C& s tie, Watson, and Patteson it was raining l av ii y on the Tuesday when they were remoW the stones, and lor some time previously! I think it possible that they might havered the atones without seeing the bundle Workmen generally are

§WMMM in the wrw «tote ±," t three or tour yards. BCTo eMr Joy : The bundle was easily found. T believe the bundle must have been seen among the stones by any person searching for anything, but the stones were removed when I gave it a kick. I think the bundle would certainly have got wet considering the heavy rains. Stones invariably get wet in wet weather when out in the rain. The bundle was wrapped up in a rag of some sort. It was dirty when I found it It might have been calico, but Ido not know positively. It was a rag and saturated with kerosene. William Christie, another stone-mason, in the same employment, deposed to the finding of the bundle, and pointed out the spot marked on the plan. I threw the bundle to my mate, who, being more curious than me, opened and inspected it. To Mr Kees : T helped to move away the atones. lam of opinion that, if the bundle had brei there I should have sent between the stones nearest the fence. I dorit think the bundle could have been there from tbe night of the lire to the/time it was found without getting wet. I was at the works on the morning after the fire when L'etective Jeffrey came. I saw him make a search. The men were gathering for work when that officer came in. When I first spoke to him he was on the pavement stones. 1 did not pay attention to him during his search He might have been there ten minutes. I took no particular notice. I made no search, nor am I aware that any of the men did. .To his Worship : Jeffrey did not tell me that he was looking for a bundle. This closed the evidence for the prosecution. ... ~ Mr Rees asked the Court that the witness Catherine Gleeson might be re-called, as she could give most important evidence, which has since come to their knowledge. Mr Brookfield said he could have no objection to such a request. His Worship here .complimented the gentlemen on the side of the prosecution for the very fair manner in which they had conducted this enquiry. He must say that it reflected great credit on them. Mr Bees agreed with his Worship s remarks. Catherine Gleeson was re-called and examined by Mr Kees. I was examined on this case the other. I saw Detectives Jeffrey and Tfirnaham on the Tuesday after the fire, the 10th June. I had also seen them on the Sunday and Monday previously. On the Tuesday evening Mr Brohnm was with them. She had heard Jeffrey say " Here's Mrßroham, I must go and speak to him." The detectives asked me that evening what papers the famiiy took in. I told them the Herald, the Evening Star, and the Jewish papers, which were lying about. . Jeffrey then asked me what bottles were lying about the premises, and of what kind they were. I said there were no bottles lying about. He then asked me if I could see if Master Alexander's pockets or coat sleeves were stained with kerosene, or if any had been spilt about the house. (Mr Jeffrey don't laugh at me ; I'm not hereto be laughed at.) He then wished to know if any of the papers I hid mentioned were lying about, or if any had been taken off the file. I told him I never went down stairs, and I could not come out again to let him know. I then went in, and went about my work. There were then somo pebbles thrown' up at the window. This was a little after nine o'clock. There were no lights in the passage, which is narrow. I can hear persons passing to and fro. I opsned the window and looked out. I saw a person underneath the window ; it was a man. I said, "Who's there?" when he replied, "Is your name Mrs Gleeson?" I said, " Yes ; what do you want r" He said, " Detective Jeffrey has sent me round for some pieces of paper, all the pieces in the house, to see if they correspond with those which .he has found; also, the measure of the lamp-burners." I got the things asked for and gave them to the person. I have seen the box now produced in Mrs Brown's house. I tore a piece off to measure the size of the wick to fit into the lamp-burner. I cut it with the scissors. I went to the dust-box and got pieces of the Herald and EVENING Star, and a piece of envelope with a hand-writing and some sealing-wax on it ; also apiece of the Jewish Chronicle out of Mrs. Brown's dressing-room, and left the other. I tied them all up with .a strip of calico, and threw the bundle out of the window to

the man below. (The different pieces of paper were then hauded to witness, who recognised them as the pieces which she had thrown out of the window to the mysterious stranger below.) I cannot say that the man below was JDetective Jeffrey. I' have no idea who it was. Jeffrey had been speaking to me about the lamps previously. He asked me what quantity of kerosene was in the lamps, and where they stood. I threw the bundle out of the window to the man. He said nothing, and I heard his footsteps die away in the distance. On the foil »vrag day (Wednesday) young Brown was arrested and the house searched?

1 saw Jeffrey again on Friday night at the police-station. We were alone. No other person was present. I asked him to leave a letter with Hawkins for me. He is in the gaol. I had conversed with Jeffrey previously about Hawkins.He promised to give the letter to John Hawkins and get me an answer. I told him not to bring my name into this case if possible. He said he would not, and I left him. On Sunday night I saw Jeffrey again in Victoria-street, near Quick's stable, , by the hotel. I asked him if he had left my letter ? He said " No," he was too busy with Brown's case. I told him that Mr Joy had been to Mr Brown's, and had asked me about ray conversation with him (Jeffrey). I told him that he (Jeffrey) had asked me about the papers ; but I did not tell Mr Joy all. I told him that Mr Joy would break 'down his evidence if he did not mind what he was about, when he said he can't unless you teJl him anything. To Mr Brookfield : I don't remember that Mr Joy s.aid he would turn Mr Broham into a cocked hat. I told Jeffrey that I got £50 in a former case, and that I should ask Mr Joy if he could not get me some more. It was dark that night. I have not been in the hobit of seeing persons out of the window. I could not see the man's face. I might have thought it improper, but I believed that it was Mr Jeffrey sent the mys- ■ terious man. - J

Mr Brookfield : Did you think that you were doing your duty to Mr Brown and his family by asting in this manner. Mr Rees objected to this question. . Witness continued : I closed the window immediately after I had given out the papers. 1 made statements to Mr Joy yesterday

after the ejfatfhination. I had not told any body befopef^ I had mentioned to Mr Joy about the pjfpers that were taken in by "ify. Brown, rigked Mr Jeffrey on Sunday even, ing if he nad-got the papers, He said "AU right." J djgj not disclose anything, became I did not wait to get myself into a row with the family.\lWhen I was at the station Jeffrey sheltered me from Mr Brown. I dj^ not wish to btfgeen with the police by him. I should hatvj(y|eft Mrs. Brown's service on Monday, butipould" not get away as Mrs. Brown was \||y ill. This concluded the evidence called for the prosecution. •ss■ Mr * Joy askfed that the case might be adjourned until the mornJpg_ig. order that counsel for the defenc^ung~^—-Hqve the' opportunity of «pnsulting ifcogetbfer uaf1 to"the defence, as it scarcely be done this evening. His' Worship said this was the time for counsel to address the Court for the defence previous to reading the whole of the depositions, but perhaps it would be best to adjourn the matter until the morning. The Court the%rose.