POLICE COURT—Friday. [Before Thos Beckham, Esq, R M.]

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XX, Issue 2121, 7 May 1864, Page 5

POLICE COURT — Friday. [Before Thos Beckham, Esq , R M.]

DESERTION. Samuel Bradley, a deserter from the 70th Eegfc., was placed at the bar. ' ' The prisoner pleaded guilty, and was ordered to be handed over to the military authorities.

DRUNKENNESS. Jamos Eiley, Joliu Buckley, and Peter Lavbuy, were fined 20js. and costs, or to bo imprisoned 48 hours with hard labour for this offence.

tABCKNY. James Wright, who was remanded a day or two since, was again placed at the bar tins morning, charged with stealfng certain monies and articles, belonging to, Samuel Douglas. The following evidence was given against him :—: — Samuel Douglas, sworn, said : lam a saddler, residing at Newmarket. I know the prisoner. He was in my employ. On Sunday, May 1, I left my liouse between 8 and 9 o'clock in the morning, and having seemed it lode into Auckland. The prisoner came out of the house with me and came into town after me. lie rode my horse back to take it to its stable. 1 returned to my home on Monday morning before 11 o'clock, and found the door unlocked, and found that the lock had been injured, as T could not turn the key in it. When 1 went itito the kitchen I found my trunk open and missed from it a £5 note, a £1 note, two sovereigns, and three halfsovereigns, also some shirts and other articles of clothing. I saw these articles in my trunk before I lefo my hou<=e. T also missed a whip, which I value at 10s. The articles produced are my pioperty, and are part of those stolen. On Monday night, before twelve o'clock, I saw the prisoner. He was brought to me by two persons, named Cooke and Dagnall, whom I now see in court. In the presence of the prisoner, Dagnall gave me a £5 note, a £1 note, and Is. 104(1. He said iv the prisoner's presence that the pri' oaer gave it him. I kept the prisoner in my house all night, then handed him over to the police, and gave the money to Seigeant Foster. I cannot identif}' the money btolen, bnt the notes produced are those I gave to Sergeant Poster. Thomas Dagnall, sworn, said. 1 am a stock driver for Mr. Buckland. I know the prisoner. I was at Newmaikeb last Monday morning, and saw the piosecutoi tlieic. He told me he had been lobbed. I was at a house called the Haip of Erin that evening. T went theie at 8 o'clock. I saw the prisoner theve when the house was being closed. 1 asked the prisoner if he had any of lua master's money left, that he had taken. He said " Yes ; I have £6 left. " 1 asked him if he would give it to me, or the landlord of the house. lie gave it to me. There was a £5 note, £1 note, 6il. and 4£d. I asked him then to come to his master, and he did so. Wuen we got to Newmaiket, I knocked up the prosecutor, and told him I had the prisoner and the money. I gave the money over to his master m the prisoner's presence. I left the piisonc; theie. John Reilly, sworn, said : I am a labourer, living at Ouehunga. 1 saw the prisoner on Sunday night. I met him at Kellys public house, and he asked me for a lodging, and he slept at my house. He had a coat on his back, a whip in his hand, and a bottle of pale brandy. I called him up next moraine;. He had no boots, and asked me to get him a pair. He gave me a soveieign and two half-crowns. I lost the soveicigu tlnough a hole in my pocket. After 1 infoimed him of the loss he lefb the house. On Tuesday morning Sei geaut Foster came to my house. He asked me if I had anything belonging to the prosecutor. I said I did not see the prisoner with anything except a whip in his hand. My wife pulled out the sofa, and found the whip that the pi isoner had ; the w hip produced is the same. Sergeant Foster took the whip. I found nothing moie at-that time, but on Tuesday evening, while sweeping under the bed wheie the pi isoner slept, I found the coat pioduced. The coab was not iv the house befoie the prisoner came there. It was so dark when the pi isoner came I could not see what Kind of coat the pi isoner had on. T gave the coat to Sergeant Foster this morning. No peison had been to my house besides the pusoner. James Foster, sv\ oru, said : I am a sergeant in the armed police. On Tuesday, 3idius>tant, I went to the last witness's house at Onehnuga, and received the whip produced. I received the coat produced this morning. They have been identified by the prosecutor as his pi opei ty. On Tuesday mor ning I also received the purse produced from the prosecutor. The prisoner, after being cautioned in the usual way, said nothing in ieply to the charge, and was then committed to take his ti ial for larceny at the next sessions of the Supreme Court.