POLICE COURT.—This day.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2500, 29 March 1878, Page 3

POLICE COURT.—This day.

(Before X, Barstow, Esq., E.M.) INEBRIATES..

The following persons were fined for being drunk: Martin Lestrange, 5s and costs; Mary Anne Gillan?, 25s and costs ; Bernard Davis, 5s and costs ; and Mary Anne Steel, 5s and costs. CAKES. Alex. McComish, a small boy, was charged with obtaining, on false pretences, from°E. McEwen, certain cakes, value Bs. The boy pleaded guilty. Mr Pardy asked that the case might be adjourned, in order that enquiries might be made. A remand was therefore granted.

NEGLECTING TO SUPPORT A WIFE,

Robert Chalmers, a respectable-looking man, was charged with having failed to meet an order of the Court for the payment of £1 per week for the support of his wife and child, was brought up to shew cause why he should not go to gaol. Defendant said he had been in bad health, and had not been able to pay more than 5s per week. He was prepared to call witnesses to prove his inability to j>ay. The Bench sentenced him to one month's imprisonment with hard labour.

NOT IN THESE BOOTS. John Hill, a loafer,'was charged with having stolen a pair of boots, the property of John Little on Saturday last.

He pleaded guilty. Prisonor said he had been looking for a job. Mr Barstow : Some people look for jobs and are "lad enough not to find them. One month's hai d labour.

" THE OULD MARE."

William Davis was charged with allowing a mare his property, to stray. Mrs Davis appeared for her son, who was down South, and pleaded guilty. Fined 2s Gel and costs. •

I-AECENY.

Thomas Richards was charged with stealing a horse, saddle and bridle, and £7, the property of D. McHugh, of Papatoitoi; and also with stealing a saddle and bridle, the property of T. Chow, of Otahuhu. Mr Pardy asked for a remand till this day week. —Remand granted.

(Before R. C. Barstow Esq., R.M., and Col. Nation, J.P.)

THE PRINCES-STREET ROBBERY.

Gertrude Warren, of Auckland, was charged with having on the 23rd day of March, IS7S, at Auckland, in the dwellinghouse of Margaret Haslett feloniously stolen, 1 black silk dress, 1 home-spun dress, 1 Ulster, 1 long silk jacket, 1 longcloth jacket, 1 seal-skin jacket, 1 velvet jacket, 1 skunk, 1 pair new boots, 1 ivory opera-glass, 1 tin box containing 3 bonnets, 1 serge dress, 1 polonaise, 1 knife, 1 sheet, 1 night-shirt, 1 table-cloth, 1 card case, 1 purse, 1 seal-skin bag, £2 11s in gold and silver, 1 gold Albert chain, and 1 screwdriver, of the total value of about £85 Gs ljd, the property of Adolph Louri. Prisoner appeared nicely dressed in a blue serge dress, and her manner was ladylike. She was accommodated Avith a chair outside the dock, and held down her head, looking furtively from under her hat at the Bench. Occasionally she- bit her lip.

Sub-Inspector Pardy said the prisoner •was a. stianger in Auckland. She came to Auckland a, fortnight ago. He described the facts in connection with her acquaintance with Mrs Lourie, and the subsequent occurrences which Isd to her arrest. He then called

Alice Sophia Lonri, a Russian name, being in a delicate state of health was accommodatedwith a chair near the Bench. Mrs Louri, who was extremely nervous, wore a very handsome olive green silk dress of the new shade, wonderfully embroidered, a chip hat and white feather. Round her neck was a massive gold link chain, with a locket attached. She is a young lady of about 25, "with a fair complexion and luxuriant yellow hair. She was examined by Sub-Inspector Pardy and deposed : 1 am the wife of Adolph Louri, Commission Agent in Auckland. We have been residing at Mrs Haslett's board-ing-house, Waterloo Quadrant. I know prisoner. She resided there also. On Saturday morning last Mr Louri and I made an arrangement that she shonld accompany us in visiting some friends on that afternoon. Prisoner consented tv go until just before we started. At about 2 o'clock we were prepared to start. I told her we were ready, and she said, " I don't wish to go with you, as I have got some writing to do." I pressed her to go with us, thinking it natural enough as she had no invitation. I still pressed her to go, and she said she did not wish to go, as she had no invitation. Mr Louri and I proceeded, leaving her behind. We returned a little after 9 in the evening. I went along the passage as far as the back kitchen, and then turned back with the intention of going upstairs. I met prisoner at the foot of the stairs. She said " don't go upstairs,' Mrs Louri, I luve got some fruit for you; come into the diningroom." I told her I wished to go upstairs, and I did so. She asked me more tnan once to remain downstairs. I said I had some ferns I wished to press. I went up. Prisoner went with me. An alarm of fire was raised in Mrs Warren's room at about 20 minutes before ten. The lire was extinguished by my husband. I saw him at work upon it. After the fire was out prisoner examined her chest of drawers. I had said, " See that there is nothing burning in the chest of drawers." Prisoner opened two drawers, and remarked that she had lost her purse,-[and all her things were gone. She said to me, "You had better see that all yours are safe." I went to look at my own things. There is one room between mine and the prisoners. I at once missed the greater part of my clothing and other articles (list of articles and value produced). That is correct. (Witness identified the articles separately and gave the values). I last saw the portmanteau under my bed, and the dresses were hanging up in my room. The opera glass was on the small shelf. The hat box was under the bed with the portmanteau. His Worship : Is this necessary as to the position of the things ? Sub-Inspector Pardy : Yes. We shall be able to shew that the prisoner went about the_ business in a very business-like and deliberate manner, collecting the goods from all parts of the piece. I wish your Worship to remember that all my witnesses are hostile witnesses, and from the part they have taken since the arrest, it would appear that they desire to shield the prisoner. Mrs Louri: Am I to answer the question ?

Mr Barstow : Yes,

Examination resumed : The purse was in the box. I don't think it was locked. So far as I know, the prisoner was aware that the money was there. Mrs Louri went to the box first. There was a gold chain in the box besides the purse. (Chain produced and identified). By the Bench : Prisoner Avas in my room when I went first to examine it. I cannot say whether she remained or not all the time I was looking about. I don't remember what prisoner said to me when I found the things were gone. By Mr Pardy : Prisoner did not offer to return me any money. I asked the detective when he came first where the money was, when I saw my purse in his possession. He opened it and asked me if i recollected what money was in it. I told him as nearly as I could. He said there was no gold in it. I asked Mrs Warren what she done with the gold. She said she had it in her pocket. She gave me £2 in gold back again. I took it from her. I gave the prisoner no authority to take the property away. This concluded Mrs Lourie's evidence. Mrs Warren, when asked if she had any question to put to witness, said " No." Alter Mrs Lourie's evidence had been read over, Adolf Lourie was called", and said : I am a commission agent in Auckland, residing at Mrs Haslett's boarding-house. I remember Saturday evening last. A lot

of property was stolen from my room. Before we weDt out Mrs Loune told me she had put her purse in the box. I examined the box on my return home, and I found it broken open, and the purse gone. I believe the prisoner was present when Mrs Lourie told me her purse was in the box.

X.By the Bench: I never gave anyone permission to take away the articles which I have seen exhibited in Court to-day. Edward Haslefcfc deposed : I am a clerk, residing with my mother in Waterloo Quadrant. I remember Saturday night last, the 23rd inst. Mrs Louri lost a large quantity of property in. my mother's board-ing-house. I heard, the prisoner tell Mrs Louri to see if her purse were missing, and I heard the prisoner say it was in the garden, where I afterwards found it. I brought it into the house, where we all were, including the detective. I do not think I opened the purse. This was Mr Haslett's evidence. Mrs Warren did not wish to put any questions to Mr Haslett. Francis Johnson deposed : lam a carpenter, employed on the railway, residing at Parnell. I remember last Saturday evening, 23rd inst. I was going down Waterloo Quadrant at about 7.30 p. hi. I met a woman opposite Mr Nathan's house. I cannot swear the prisoner is the same person. It was rather dark at the time. She was standing still, with a portmanteau beside her. The one in Court is like the one I carried. There was a label on it. She stopped me, and asked me where she could get a cab. I said I didn't know, but thought she would have to go to Queen-street. She said she had been standing there a long while, < and wished she could get someone to carry it for her or get a cab. I consequently offered to take it for her io the Albert Hotel. I took it to the Albert Hotel for her, and gave it to the waiter who is now in Court (Arthur Towers.) The prisoner said she would be down shortly. I asked her if ray taking it there would be all right, and she said "yes," her name and address were on the portmanteau. Arthur Towers deposed : I am a waiter at the Albert Hotel, I remember last Saturday, 23rd inst. I recollect the last witness bringing the portmanteau which is in Court with an address on it, to our hotel. The address was "J. F. Warren, Albert Hotel." I took charge of it.' Finally I gave it up to Detective Grace. Mrs Catherine Gribble deposed : I am a widow, and keep a fruit shop in Victoriastreet. On Saturday last, 23rd inst., the prisoner came in. I believe it was about eight o'clock. She bought a pound of grapes, and left a carpet bag and hat box with me. She asked me to take care of them till Monday, which I promised to do. I gave them up to Detective Grace in the same state as I received them.

Detective Grace said that on Saturday 23rd inst., I proceeded (on information received) to Mrs Haslett's house about ten minutes past eleven. I saw Mr and Mrs Lourio. Mr Lourie told me he had been robbed. I afterwards saw the prisoner. She also complained of having been robbed of several articles, and said they had been stolen out of her room. After some"' conversation, I charged her with stealing a quantity of property from Mr Lourie, and also ou another charge, and gtold her she must accompany me to the Police Station. She denied both charges, and requested to be allowed to see Mrs Lourie before she was taken to the station. I let lier see Mrs Lourie. She said to her, "I did it all, forgive me ; I shall return you all your things ; your portmanteau and clothing I sent to the Albeit Hotel; the purse (which I took from your box), is in the adjoining garden ; your opera glass I shall return to you ; I forget where the black bag is." The purse was then brought in by Haslett. I took possession of it. I examined the purse and found in it 11s 6d in silver and some coppers, also a gold chain. Mrs Lourie said, " I left two or three pounds in gold in it." The prisoner then said, "There was only £2 10s in it." She opened her purse and produced the missing sum. I found the stolen property at the Albert Hotel and at Mrs Gribble's.

The Court adjourned for an hour