MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1244, 28 September 1911, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr. W. G. Riddoll, S.M.) DETECTIVES NIGHT-WATCH ON THE NGAHAURANGA HILL. AND WHAT CAME OF IT. John Baker, appearing on remand, was charged with having, on September 22, at Ngahanranga, stolen ii sheep valued at. .CI, the property of Patrick Kavnnagh. Chief-Detective Broberg prosecuted, and accused was defended by Mr. Dunn. Patrick Kavnnagh, dairy and sheepfarmer at Ngahanranga, stated that, since March last, he had miss-rd 50 sheep irum iii« property, and about 50 sheep had been killed on tho property without his know. ledge or sanction... Xho .wool and. skins

wero similar lo those of his sheep, which were a cross between Kc.mncy and Lincoln. Acting-Dciective iiaiiey gavo evidence . to the ell'cct that he liuil U-en engaged in watching complainant's property by night lor ,-ome weeks past. On the night ot September. 22 tin cjmpniiy wilh Constable ,1. Cuiiimings;, lie observed )l:\l;er descending u. trade iroin Kavanagh'a land with a sack ui his bach. Ilu al once accosted tlie man, and asked him what tlie sack contained, 'the suspect at once dropped tlie sack, which contained the skinned carca.-s of a ewe sheep, and ran, but witness and me constable nevertheless dleetcd his arrcsr. JSalur made violent resistance and protestations of his innocence, adding that ho had authority to kill sheep on the adjoining hill. Maries on tne carcass hhowod that the sheep had been killed by a small bullet of about pea-rifle calibre. A packing needle and somo (nine ami several .-malt carlridgcs were also found in Maker's possession, (in the following day his boardinghousc was searched, and a pea-riHo was found, underneath tlie matrress of a sparo lied. Tho cartridges found in his possession corresponded to the bore of the lirearm. Two sheep-skins wero also found in a lumber room upstairs and, in ono skin, there wero bullet holes. Other skins were found in the yard. To Mr. Dunn: When arresting accused witness and Constable Cummings did not draw their revolvers, but it was true that they had had to put him on tho ground in order to get the hand-cuil's on. Constable J. Cunimiugs gave corroborative evidence as to the arrest, but added that on the following day ho found, when 'searching on complainant's land, ,two. empty .shot-gun cartridges. Two cartridges found in accused's houso bore a similar brand to cue found on the land. A cartridge box discovered in accused's house; bore tlie same brand as one of the cartridges found on (he land. On being formally charged accused pleaded not guilty and reserved his dofence. He was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being allowed in the sum of JISO, and bro .sureties of AMO each. THE MAORI AND THE VOUCHER. Pehn Riugama.il, a. young Maori, appeared on remand, and was charged that on June 2G at Wellington he forged the

name of Wharekoha Hone to n voucher and ullrrrd the same to Goo. Chcsterman, ;i~ having received the sum of .C"i III?, (id., intending thiil. it should be acted upon us "iTtiiiiii', find further Unit he did personale W'lifiri'koli.'i. Jlmi'-' with intent to fraudulcndv uljliiiii the sum of .£55 10s. lid. (.'liief-Deli'ctivo Brobcrg prosecuted, and .Mr. ('. 15. Morison appeared for (lie accused. II; was staled in evidence Ilia!: the accused lii'd acted as agent for Wliarokohu Hone, and al Wellington drew the money from I lie Public Trustee. Whnrekolia Hone was subsequently notified that the. amount had been drawn, and as Jio did not receive Iho. mcuey within n few days informaliou was laid, Subsequently, however, lie received a. letter from Hit- accused explaining matters. Wharekoha Hone was examined nt longlh. and slated that when ho received I lie letter from accused lie was convinced (hat if was not the intention of the accused tu steal. Hearing of the case will he resumed this afternoon. OSOBER I'OLK. Two first offending: inebriates were convicted and discharged. A third forfeited his bail. Geo. Hannah, who had several previous convictions for insobriety against him, was fined 205., and made the subject of a prohibition order. The alternative, was seven davs' imprisonment Kdward Waters, who had been found without excuse on premises owned by Emiiio Borghotfi, in .Stoke .Street, on Septembor 22, was charged with being; a rogue and a vagabond. His counsel (.Mr. A. 11. I Hindmarsh) stated that the affair had been the result of drink. 1 Accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon. He was alfo made the subject of a prohibition order.