MAGISTRATES' COURTS

Press, Volume XIX, Issue 2812, 7 May 1872, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURTS

: ♦ CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, May G. [Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.] Drunk and Disorderly—Michael Kegan, Charles Brown, and George W. Pickering, were each fined 20s, and in default of payment to be imprisoned for forty-eight hours. John Collier and Wm. Dunn were dismissed with a caution. Larceny from the Person — Harry Tandy was brought np in custody, charged with stealing a £1 note, from the person of William Chancy. Detective Feast deposed— I arreated the prisoner about a quarter to eleven on Saturday night, and I told him he was charged with robbing a man named Chancy, of a £1 note. Prisoner asked mc whether I thought he would demean himself by doing such a thing. I searched him, and found a sovereign, four half-sovereigns, and £1 14s in silver, upon him. About an hour previous to that, from information I had received, I watched the prisoner. I followed him from near the Warwick hotel to the Zetland Arms, where he changed a £1 note. I told Mr Seabright to put the note by. By Prisoner—The information was given to mc about nine. I lost sight of you after you went into the Zetland Arms. John Vercoe sworn, deposed—l am a mason residing in Christchurch. I know William Cbaney, who has been working with mc. We were all paid at the Warwick Hotel, and we remained there. I went home and came back again, but Chancy did not leave. Chancy got under the influence of liquor. Prisoner went I away with mc and came back. I had knowu. ! him" before. I wanted Chancy to give mc his money, so that 1 might hand it to Beattie to take care of, but he would not do J so. I afterwards saw prisoner take four one pound notes out of Chaney's pocket and count them. I asked prisoner, as he was a stranger to Chancy, to give the notes either to mc or Beattie. He said he wanted to speak to mc, and we went into a room. Prisoner gave mc I a roll of notes, and I went out and handed I them to Beattie, who was in the bar. He counted them and there were only three. I told him there were only three notes. So far as I could see there was no reason for going into the room. He said something about not giving the money up to mc or to Beattie, unless Chancy was willing, and he then gave mc the roll of notes. Prisoner was about the house for half an hour or so. I went out to give information to the police, and when I returned prisoner was gone. By prisoner—lt was about seyen o'clock when you came home with mc. I told you that there was a man down at Beattie's who had money on him. I did not ask you to come with mc. I told you that I was going down to try to get the money from him. You took the money from Chancy in the presence of Beattie and myself ; counted it in our presence, and t]icre was four notes. When I found there were only three notes, I went back into the room to see if one of the notes had dropped. Beattie never had the money in his hands until I had counted them, and found there were only three. Robert Beattie sworn, deposed — I am landlord of the Warwick Hotel. Vercoe and Chancy are working for mc. They were at my house on Saturday" night. Prisoner vas there also. Chauey 'got the worse for liquor. Vercoe said to mc that Chancy had a wife nnd family, and he was afraid that he would lose the mouey I paid him.—five £1 notes. He had changed one. and to my knowledge had four left Vercoe asked Chancy to give the money up to mc to take care of until Monday. Prisoner was standing , by, and I believe he'nsketl him to have a game of cards with him. Prisoner took some money ont of Chaney's pocket and counted it on the counter. I was standing behind the counter. Prisoner counted the cotes and there wore four. I counted them as prisoner put them down, one by one. Vercoe told prisoner to hnud them over to mc, but prisoner said he would not uuless Chancy told him to do so. Vercoe again told him'that he must either give tho money up to mc or to him, and that he must not "take it away. Prisoner and Vercoe went into a side room, and were

" there for a inhmteor-yrr.- -rrhen - Veirue uanre~| out and said,'' I have got the money," which he placed on the counter and counted, but there were only three notes. Vercoe said to prisoner, " Come, give up that pound ,• I did not think you would do atrick like that." Prisoner ' ; What do you mean," and pulled out his purse and produced a one pound note, a sovereign, and one or two halfsovereigns. I did not see any silver ; but | there might have been a shilling or two. Prisoner went way, and came back again. William Chancy," sworn, deposed—l am a laborer, living in Christchurch. I have seen j prisoner at the Warwick. He was there on I Saturday night. I got a five pound note from Mr Beattie, which I changed for one pound notes. I afterwards changed one of the notes. Beattie asked mc to give him the money to take care of, but I said I was capable of taking care of my money. While I was talking to a mate of mine, prisoner came up and took the notes out of my pocket. I had four one pound notes in my pocket, and 15s in silver. William Seabright, sworn, deposed—l keep the Zetland Arms Hotel. Prisoner was at my house on Saturday night. He came into the bar, and had a glass of beer, which he paid for with the pound note produced. There was three pence in the change, and he had another glass of beer, and went away at once. He was not more than a minute or so in the house. Feast came in shortly after the prisoner had gone. By Prisoner—l did not see Feast at the door while you in the bar. W. H. Davenport, sworn, deposed—Prisoner was in my shop on Saturday, but I do not know what money he had. The prisoner called William Clougher, who, on being sworn, stated—We were playing cards at Beattie's on Saturday about five o'clock. I saw a lot of silver in your hand. By the Police—l did not see any notes. The prisoner denied the theft, and stated that when he took the money out of Chaney's pocket there were four notes rolled up together, and he handed that amount to Vercoe. His Worship sentenced the prisoner to six months' imprisonment with hard labor.