MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 106, 25 September 1896, Page 6

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

This Day. • (Before Mr. H. S. Wardell, S.M.) Mary Pay was brought up on remand on the charge of having stolen a purse containing 12s 6d and a gold ring. On the mother undertaking to keep her at home and control her properly, the case against the girl was dismissed. John M'Dowell was charged with being unlawfully absent from the barque G. M. Tucker without leave. Captain Holm said that the accused refused duty on the high, seas, and when the vessel arrived in Wellington^ he disappeared, and was absent for tNvo days without leave. Mr. Wardell ordered the accused to be imprisoned for 24 hours, with hard labour. Joseph Cockbiirn was charged with the theft of a kangaroo, the property of George Smith. The animal in question is that which was whibited a few months ago as "the boxing kangaroo." Mr. Jellicoe appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Wilford for the defence. Mr. Jellicoe, in opening the case, said the defendant had broken into the box in which the kangaroo had been kept, and forcibly removed it. Robert Paterson deposed that he purchased a kangaroo from H. Williams, of Sydney, for £12, and sold it to George Smith. Annie Williams deposed that she had let her stable to Smith for the occupation of the kangaroo, and accused had broken the lock and taken away the animal. William Hollyer, expressman, remembered the accused hiring him to remove the kangaroo. After Detective Campbell's evidence had been taken, the case was adjourned until 2.30 o'clock this afternoon to allow Williams' evidence to be taken. Stephen Bosher was charged, on remand, with having stolen a horse and cart, valued at £20, from G. W. Smart ; also a horse and cart, valued at £30 15s, from the South Pacific Loan Company ; and the accused was further charged with having forged a bill of sale by signing the name of Wm. Johnston instead of liis own, and also having obtained £12 10s by means of false pretences from Joseph Zachariah. Wm. H. Cook deposed that there was about £24 now due to the South Pacific Loan Company on a bill of sale over a horse and cart, the property of the accused. Accused, on being asked if he had any question to put, said he had kept up his weekly payments until five weeks ago, when he was so molested by the police in connection with the Petone murder that he had not been able to keep them up since. George W. Smart detailed the transaction between 1 the accused and himself in connection with the bill-of-sale his firm held over the horse and cart. Adolphus Zachariah said the full amount of the bill-of-cale held by his firm over Bosher's horse and cart was paid last Monday morning at 11 o'clpck. The accused gave witness the name of Johnston, and signed that name to the promissory notes and the bill-of-sale. Alex. Jardine deposed that the accused had signed the name of W. Johnston, market-gardener, Taita, to a bill ,of fl sale which witness had prepared between the accused and Joseph Zachariah for £12 10s. Philip Johnston, fanner, Taita, said he was formerly a market-gardener at Taita, but the signature on the bill of sale was not his. Mr. G. Bassett said he had been sent by Mr. Zachariah to Bosher for an explanation, and the accused had told him that Bosher was his French name. John Collins said he had known Bosher's wife and people lor many years, and respected them, and in consequence he had obtained and discharged the bill-of-sale for Bosher. He had afterwards destroyed it. His Worship decided to commit the accused for trial on the charges of forgery, theft, and false pretences. Bail was allowed in the accused's own recognisances of £50, and two sureties of £75 each. Bail had not been obtained when we went to press.