THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 113, 14 May 1902, Page 2

THIS DAY.

(Before Mr S. Hutchison, S.M.)

Drunkenness.—For this offence two first offenders were convicted and discharged with the usual caution. Thomas Robertson was fined 5/ or 24 hours in default for his second offence within six months.

Charge of Theft Dismissed.—A re-spectable-looking man named Russell Motherell was charged on remand with stealing a sewing machine,, value £2, the property of George Roberts. Chief-Detective Grace prosecuted, and Mr McGregor defended the accused, who pleaded not guilty. The. evidence for the prosecution went to show that Messrs Roberts and Coupland, the latter being a mercantile agent, occupied premises belonging to Hesketh and Aitken, in High-street. Coupland occupied the whole of the back • premises, and in one of the rooms Roberts had a stock of sewing machines stored. On May Ist Messrs Hesketh and Aitken put accused in as bailiff to distrain Coupland's goods for rent,'owing by Coupland to the firm. The machine in question was missed from Roberts' stock, and accused was seen to place it in the premises of G. Henning. and subsequently take it to Hesketh and Aitken's place. Detective McMahon .said that on arresting accused the latter said that Coupland made him a present of it. Mr McGregor stated that the defence was that Coupland gave accused a cheque, which was dishonoured, and Coupland offered him the machine in place of the cheque. Coupland left the machine outside the premises, and accused took it away. (This was denied by Coupland in his evidence.) There was np, intention on the part of accused to commit theft. Accused, in his "evidence, stated that on. the night of May Ist he was in comoany with Coupland. who, he alleged, was the worse for liquor. Coupland offered him the machine, which he declined, but on coming back later to the premises witness found iiie machine out in Hisrh-street, and took it away for safety. His Worship discharged the accused.