TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 35, 10 February 1903, Page 5

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

EXPENSIVE WATCH-CHAIN.

Frederick Moore Agnew, alias McPherson (defended by Mr Elliott), pleaded guilty to stealing and pawning a watch-chain belonging to Frederick Sc-hofield, and was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment, His Honor remarking that accused was evidently a dishonest person, though this was his lirst conviction. A MAORI CYCLIST. Ranga Ranga Hotena, a Maori, pleaded not guilty to fraudulently obtaining and stealing a bicycle, the property of John Edward Hammond, at Hamilton. Arthur Hope, employed by the prosecutor, a bicycle vendor, said accused hired a bicycle from the shop, mentioning as a reference Mr Swarbrick, solicitor, for whom he had done some Maori interpreting, and stating that Mr Swarbrick had authorised lum to say this.

.Mr Swarbrick said he understood the accused had bought and paid for the bicycle, and not merely paid 9/ for the hire of it.

Constable Potter said the bicycle had not vet been recovered.

Mi' Buckland, for the accused, said the defence was that Hotene applied for the hire of the bicycle, but was told that he must get a written reference from some well-known person. He went to Mr Swarbrick, who refused to give a reference, and accused therefore did not go for the bicycle, nor did he know anything about, the theft of it.

Accused., being sworn, confirmed counsel's statement, but in reply to IVir Tole he admitted "that he had been convicted of theft at Te Aroha. and fined £5 and cos i.s. NOT GUILTY. Albert Victor McCljisky. charged with fraudulently obtaining a money order telegram, and forging a receipt for the same, pleaded not guilt}'.

William Blighting pleaded not guilty to indecently assaulting Sarah tlemingwav at Waihi.

The further hearing of these two cases was deferred.