A Cool Theft.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5660, 19 October 1889, Page 3

A Cool Theft.

Tho young miii, Donia Stanislaus McCarthy, on remand, was charged at the It. At. Court this morning with having stolon oho silver watch and chain valued at £o the property of ono Henry Bluckburn. The 'icoukuJ pleaded not guilty. Tho evidence of Blackburn went to show* thiit ao-cti.-ed was in Knock's shop, Pukrtupu, on tho 17th iu.stant, it) company with Black - biim. Accused asked him tho time, and putting his hand forward, took tho watch out of Blackburn's vest pocket; ho also loosened the chain from the vest, and placed the watch and chiiin iv his own pocket, ejaculating at tho same time, "Don't I look grand." Blackburn made no objection «t the time, evidently thinking that the accused merely >'esired to look at and handle it. MoCat thy, however, walked out tho shop with tho watch in his possession, and Blackburn thought that ho nrould return it directly. But .-tL-cused uot doins , this, Bliickburn. not ii horeo and rode after him, and roached Napier at seven o'clock the same evening. At eight o'clock hu found tho accused in Emerson street, pretty well drunk. Ou being asked to return the articles McCarthy refused, and ho the a found his way into tho Wesley an Church. Later on in the evouing Blackburn saw the accused, who was drunk, iv thochargo of a constable, and ho requested tho police to keep nn eye on a wutch and eh 'in which McCarthy had in his possession. Prior ti> his arrest accused had gone to the pawnbroker's and raised ti pound on the watch, but the chain wan kept fixed, intimating that "he wanted it to appear so that he hud a watch." The pawn ticket he put in his pocket, who/c it was discovered by tho police, who t>ubs.equeutly found out that Blackburn's watch had been pawned by accused. McCarthy was given the option of plciding guilty to the offence and being doult with summarily by tho K.ftl., but ho preferred th'it thu case should go to a jury, and ho was committed for trial at tho next sittings of the Supreme Court. Bail was I allowed in ono surety of £50, und two sureI ties of £lOU each. The prosecutor will recompense tho pawnbroker for his loss.