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Auckland Star, Volume XI, Issue 3241, 9 December 1880, Page 2

A recent telegram briefly mentioned the fact that Billy Wilson, the well-knowu member of the Georgia Minstrel Troupe, had been acquitted on a charge of receiving j stolen property at Wanganui. The " Waneanui Herald " gives particulars of the trial. In the first place, Edward Clark was charged with stealing certain monies from C. H. Chevanucs, "au hotel-keeper, and being convicted was sentenced to eighteen months' penal seivitude. Billy Wilson was tLen charged with having received part of the stolen money, knowing it to have been stolen. In the evidence the prosecution attempted to prove that Wilson had charged Clarke with the robbery from the bar, and had made use of that knowledge to extort v share of the booty. The prisoner admitted that lie had received a share of the money, but denied.any guilty knowledge. The jury returned a verdict of acquittal, and His Honor in discharging Wilson said the prisoner wns very fortunate in the lenient view which the jury had taken of the evidence,