SUPREME COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 211, 11 September 1897, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

FRIDAY.

CRIMINAL SITTINGS,

(Before His Honor Mr Justice Conolly)

Alleged Theft From the Person.— Quinton James Beresford was indicted that on July 20th in Queen-street ho did steal from the person of Thomas Boorman one steerage passage ticket, one 1.0. U. for £100, one money bag and £5 10s in money. —The circumstances of the alleged theft were published in last evening's impression.—Mr Hugh Campbell defended prisoner.—Sergeant William Lyons, who was on duty "on the morning of the 20th July last iii Queen-street, gave evidence. From what the boy Butler told him be went to premises opposite Kcenan's stables in Chapel-street and saw prisoner. He arrested him on a charge of stealing from a drunken man in Queen-street. Prisoner said be drove his own cab up Queen-street. On the Avay to the station through High - street prisoner took half-a-sovereign out of his right hand trousers pocket and put it in his mouth. Witness requested him to take it out, and after some difficulty he dropped it on to tbe floor of the watch house. Witness said he found £1 13s on prisoner besides the half - a - sovereign. Prisoner appeared as if he had had liquor. In cross-examination witness said he found no money bag, 1.0. U., or steerage passage ticket on prisoner when he searched him. Witness charged prisoner at the station with the theft of the half-a-sovereign.— Constable Keenan deposed that he saw prisoner coming up Queen-street in a hansom cab on the morning in question. Prisoner was not driving, be was sitting in the cab. The cab turned up Wyndhamstreet. Witness said be also saw a four wheeled cab behind. It was being driven by a boy named South. The four-wheeler aiso turned up Wyndham-street. He accompanied Sergt. Lyons to Chapel-street and saw the prisoner. The man Boorman was arrested for drunkenness the same morning after the affair. A second person was charged with the theft in conjunction with Beresford at the lower court, but was discharged.—This was the case for the Crown. —Mr Campbell then called witnesses as to prisoner's character. The witnesses examined were Messrs D. T. Parker ('bus proprietor), George McElwain (butcher of Karangahape Road), Charles Hopkins (draper and clothier, Queen-street), and Constable Hinton. —Mr Campbell addressed the jury in defence of prisoner. He said that the only evidence in support of the indictment was that of prosecutor himself. He was contradicted by Ids own witnesses. —Mr Tole replied, after which His Honor summed up the case to the jury. When summing up His Honor pointed out that the prosecutor's evidence (which was all the jury had about the ticket, 1.0. U., money hags, steerage passage ticket, etc.) contradicted that of all the other witnesses. The jury found the prisoner " not guilty," and he was discharged.

The criminal sittings are now con eluded.