RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 779, 3 November 1865, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THIS DAT. (Before the Hon. A. C. Strode, R.M.) DRUNKENNESS. John Gately, charged with this offence, was fined 20s and costs, or the usual alternative. THEFT. Alice Potts (a respectably dressed woman) was charged with having on the 31st tilt, feloniously stolen a hearth rug, one dozen knives and forks, and one dozen desert spoons, valued at 20s, the property of David Asher. Mr Ward appeared for the prisoner, and pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor's statement was that on the 31st ult. he left his premises in charge of his wife, for the purpose of attending a sale. He returned in the afternoon, and then missed the hearthrug. Next morning in dusting the place, he missed the knives and forks, and spoons. On the same afternoon the prisoner came into the shop and enquired the price of a rocking chair, and upon being told the price, demurred, saying " she often bought goods there, and that she had bought from his wife a hearth rug that day." In consequence of this admission, he took out a search warrant. Prosecutor's wife stated that the prisoner came into the shop on the 21st inst., and she priced the ruge, but left the shop without" making any purchase. She (the witness) then left the shop, and left her son there until his father's return. The son stated that the prisoner also came to him and priced the rugs, but never bought ?«ny of tliem. Detective Farrel stated that he went with a warrant to the prisoner's house, and on the way there he met her. She went next door, and the rug was handed to her ; she put it under her shawl. He was asked to come inside and get it, so as not to make a row. She told him that she had purchased the rug, and had made a present of it to Mr Brown her neighbour. This morning the prosecutor came to the detective office, and handed him the missing spoons, but he refused to take them.—At this stage of the proceedings the prosecutor and his son were re-called to explain the manner in which the spoons had been recovered, and it transpired that they had been left in the shop this morning between nine and ten o'clock, but by whom it was not known. For the defence a witness was called to prove the fact that the prisoner had changed money as for the alleged purj>ose of buying the rug, and Mr Watson of Messrs. Watson & Sons, High-st., was called, and said he had known the prisoner for 18 months, and that he considered her an honest woman. The Magistrate said that the charge rested between the evidence of the boy and the prisoner's statement. He considered it possible that the boy (as was the custom with young boys) might have received the money and made away with it. And a doubt also existed as to her connection with the possession of the spoons. He would give her the benefit of those doubts. The prisoner was then discharged. CIVIL CASES. E. ff Ward v. Albert Griffiths, Wm. Towers, ' and others, as members of the Licensed Victuallers Society, claim £2O, for services rendered. This case was adjourned until Monday for the purpose of effecting a settlement out of Court. \ The case 3 of Kent v. Crawford, Logie v. Duncan, and Smith v. Matheson and another, were dismissed, there being no appearance of either party. Mr Wilson? applied for a re-hearing of the case of Rudd v. Levy, on the ground that fresh evidence would be adduced as to the date when Levy last had possession of the watch, &c. Mr Ward objected, and the Magistrate would decide thereto on Monday next. I