LYTTELTON.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7803, 5 March 1891, Page 3

LYTTELTON.

Wednesday, March 4. *" (Before It. Beethaiu. Ksq., R.M.) Haikxesasce. — James Raitt was wtfßed with failing to provide tor the Wpport of Jiis children. Mr H. N. balder ■Ppeared for defendant. Mrs Kaitt stated v. i &< * r,ofc received any money from »/ ■ r? a , d lor the last t ,^"l months?. He n, a ° a *Bipecarpuuter. The defence was *H« Uie money had been paid regularly to for ber support and that of the ?» j n * Au or der was mude that the 'w/eodanfc pay the earn of Hi p«r week. A. E ? SY - — Charles Richardson was wwgfd with dealing JBI7 from Patrick L»T M on February 24th, at LyttelrT * W - Stringer appeared for the ecftinaant, who pleaded %ot Guilty." t n«MiT ayea sworu « said he was a laborer ' L y«eUon, and that on the fin* »"* last he arrived In Lytteltun "geoi. Bay. H was at noon. 42R h^,i efc Pigeon Bay he had ialeiii , *.* l L ot *Wch wae tied ap rich? I khau dkerchlef, and.therewas in hie 2PSJ^ d breeches pocket, an order for &M% n he went Into British Hotel otLr^k 802116 and cubed the J® lE;* * 5? was a roan named Mason fiSS-^S ,8,1 ' 11 * 11,8 Brtttab Hotel w «aesa and Mason went to the Crown

Hotel. He was under the influence of liquor but could tell what was going on. In the Crown Hotel Mason gave him » shove against Richardson and Richardson caught hold of him and held him finh by the back with his arms round him. Witness struggled to free himself, and when he got free he missed his money. The handkerchief with the money in it was taken. The other money was in another pocket. Altogether, he lost £19 18s. He told the* landlady of the hotel, and persons who were about the hotel, that he had been robbed. He stopped at the Crown that night and the following day reported the matter to the police. To Mr Stringer—Went into the Crown Hotel at 9.30 p.m. on the 24th. Was in and out of several hotels during the day. Met Mason in the afternoon. He was not with him all day. Up to 9.30 p.m. had had about one dozen drinks of beer. Had drinks at the Cr.wn Hotel. Richardson was in a private room off the bar. Did not remember Mason, who is a one-legged man, knocking him down. Richard sou picked him up; be had his two hands on him by the waist. Did not notice a young Clarke in the room. When the inouey was missed he complained at once. The handkerchief and the money was in a hip pocket. The sovereigns were in bis right hand trousers pocket. May have *aid to Constable McCormick that he had tied his money up in the leg of his trousers. Cid not tell McCjrmick that he had been robbed of the order. The police had had to lock him up to keep him sober enough to sign the information. Miss M. Clarke, the daughter of the licensee of tbe Crown hotel, Lyttelton, said that on Tuesday, the 24th ult., the prosecutor Hayes went; to the hotel at 8.15 p. in. He was not drunk, but had been driukiog. Witness was in tbe bar at the time and sefved the prosecutor with beer and lemonade, and again with another driuk with Ma»on. He stood talking for some time. About 9 p.m. Richardson went into the side room facing the bar. Hayes was using very bad language .to witness in the bar. Mason checked him. Hayes then went into the room where Rittbardsou and one or two others were aud'started usingbad language again, when | Mason stiuck him and knocked him dewn and when he sot up he took his coat of j aud wanted to box with Mason. Witness saw Richardson pick Hayes up, and saw Richardion take bis hand out of Hayes' hip pocket, and thea after staying for a few minutes he went into a side room, and witness followed aud saw the haudkerchief in accused's band, it was & silk one of a faded red color. It appeared bulky for a bilk handkerchief. Witness tried to take it from Richardson, and she called inaMiss Brightmore to assist her, and both caught hold of the handkerchief, but could uot get it away. Witness said to accused "Let mc see what is in the* handkerchief "; and he said there was nothing in fc, it was bin own. Accused pushed witness aside, and went away into the kitchen and then out. He came back again and stayed for a little while and had a drink, and then went out to catch tbe train. When accused was out Hayes said he had been robbed. That .would bo about 9.30 p.m. lie :i;iid he had been robbed of a cheque for £3, and then said he had been robbed of £27, and later on said £17. To Mr Stringer-Mason and Hayes had been iv the hotel some time. They were close to witness in tho room when Richardsou took bold of Hayes, and witness saw Richardson take his haud out of Hayes' pocket. Kichardson had a red handkerchief; it was a bright red, and was much brighter ihau Hayes*. Witness followed accused into the room, as she Huspected that he had taken something from Unve*. Richardson said the handkerchief was his own. Hayes stayed in the hotel to about 9.30 p.m., when he baid that he had lost a cheque fof £3. KlU&abeth Brightmore, a servant of MrsClarke's, Crown Hotel, deposed that ou February 24tti, about 8.30 p.m., she went to the bar parlor. Miss Clarke was trying to get the handkerchief from Richardspn. She had hold of his hands. Wituess weut Iα to astint her to get the handkerchief. It felt hard, as if something was tied up in it. To Mr Stringer — The matter was treated as a joke Only a very small portiou of the handkerchief was visible. Thomas Mason and Mary Jane JBailey also gave' evidence.. Constable McCormick.aaid that Hayes told him he had ihe money when he was going to bed, and put it in his sock. The next morning the money was gone, and Hayes accused Mason of stealing it. The case was dHmis***" '■■■•'"■"*- '• ■ -•• ■ " .-■■••■

Civil Ca£E3.— R. Forbes and Co. t H. Bennett, claim £30 9s Bd, dishonored bill. Judgment for amount; claimed, with costs. W. Mutton T Beastey, claim £4 19s, rent of house. Judgment.fur £4 o*. .