POLICE COURT.—This Day.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1735, 6 September 1875, Page 2

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before Albert Beetham and C. N. Marshall,

Esqs., Justices.) AX APirY OF MARTYRS (N6T IfOBLE)

William Lestrange, Lewis Loback, William Russell, George Watts, Annie Eeilly, John Hayes (with an eye in mourning), Francis Bergin, Anthony King (with his head in a sling), John Barrows (with facial decorations), and James O'Connor all pleaded guilty to being drunk on Saturday night, and were punished according to their deserts. OX BAIL. James Scott Jack and James O'Connor, for being drunk on Sunday night, who had been released on bail, did not appear, and their bail was forfeited. STEALING FROM A BOAT. William Bell appeared in the dock to answer a charge of having, on the 30th October, 1874, stolen a mainsail, jib, mast and halyards, value £5, the property of James Conley. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. James Conley, the informant, deposed that he was a licensed waterman. On the day in question he left his boat at anchor in ufficial Bay about half-past eight in the evening. The mast and sails were left in the boat. On Monday these things were missed. No trace being found of the them, he gave information to the police. Yesterday, from what he heard from his son, he went to Wynyard Pier and saw his sail set in a blue boat belonging to Mr. Lang. He recognised them by the make and stuff. The mainsail now produced was his. He knew it by its being navy-drill. He made it from one of the men-of-war in the harbour. He had not enough stuff to finish the sail, and one corner was different from the rest. He could swear to the rope for that was man-of-war rope too. It could be told by a peculiar thread in the strand. The jib he could also swear to. When he saw the sails in the boat he put off to her and stopped her claiming the sails aa bis own. There were three men in the boat who said the sails and craft belonged to Mr Lang. He took possession of the boat and beached her in the bay while ho sent for the water police. He did not know the prisoner.

William Lang who described himself as a squatter at Waiheke said he knew the prisoner who had come to work for him last January. He left some sails in payment of his board and lodging. Prisoner told him that he had bought them for 15s from a man who was hard up in Auckland. He could not say how he recognised them except by the make and stuff, but he was sure they were the sails he got from the prisoner.

James Conley, junr , a lad of 14, a son of the former witness of the name, deposed he was fishing yesterday when he saw his father's sails in a blue boat. He knew them at once by the marks on them.

Detective Grace deposed to arresting the prisoner who said he had purchased the sails about six months ago from a man on the Wynyard pier. He con Id not say what the man's name was nor what he was, he had not seen him before nor should he know him if he saw him again.

Prisoner—l should know him if I saw him again.

The witnesses were asked no questions by the prisoner.

When asked if he had any statement to make, accused said he bought the sails from a stranger for Jss. He had been in the colony between 18 months and 2 years.

The Bench had no doubt that the property was stoleDj and sentenced the prisoner to 3 months imprisonment with hard labour.

This was all the business