CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 6476, 18 December 1883, Page 1

CITY POLICE COURT.

Monday, December 17. (Before J. Logan, Esq., J.T., J. Hymtm, ~" '.q , J.P., and &.. iiennie, Esq., J.P.) Larceny,— Thomas Waddcttvras chzrt cc, on remand, with stealing, on or J. vat November 2, seven ingots of copper and eo::iu tin, the property of E. S. Sparrow. Mv D. M. Stuart appeared for the defence, aul Detective Henderson conducted the prosecution,—Robert Spiera Sparrow, engineer, reposed that the accused was employed by him at his foundry as foreman moulder for about twenty months, up to the date of his arr... t on the 13 th inst. He had charge or aii castings and metala used in the mouidingehop. The copper and tin were kept in a store. When any was required it was the accused's duty to get the key from the oirico and take what he wanted, giving the weight to the clerk afterwards. They took fctcck about July 31 last, and there was then Icwfc 2qr and 241b of copper on hand. On September 6 witness's firm purchased from Messrs Anderson and Morrison six ingots, weighing lewt 121b of copper. Some were of the " Cobar" brand. On September 19 another purchase w;w made, the result being that there was about 4cwt 271b of copper left hi etjck on July 31, when there was also about 2cw« of tin on hand, which would be equal to about eight ingots. When stock was taken on the 13th inst. there was levvt siib, showing a deficiency equal to two and a-balf ingots, after allowing for what had ixi-a used. Witness was present when the accused was arrested. Detective Bain asked him if he had sold some copper to a man named Jackson, and he said, " Yes, I sold it."' Accused also said he had bought it in Blenheim from a man named Crawford, a a moulder, who was in the habit of gathering old metal. He did not know where to find him. Accused also stated that the copper was sent round by steamer from Blenheim, and that he got it at the Dunedin railway station, and sent the money in payment by letter. The accused always had charge of the key of the foundiy, uod frequently worked there at nignt. He had no authority to take any copper cr tin off the premises. Accused was paid 14a per day.—(Several other witnesses were tLen heard as to the particulars of the stock on hand and the purchase of metal from Messrs Anderson and Morrison). —John Jackson, a general dealer, deposed that the accused came to his house on August 14 last, and asked if he bought old metal. Witness asked of what it consisted, and accused Laid there were some ingots of copper and a 111 tits tin, Witness then agreed to purchase it, . and a few evenings afterwards accused brought down two ingots of copper and a few pounds of tin. Witness understood hiin to say that he got the metal from someone at Timaru. Witness bought both the copper and tin from him at 7d per lb. About a fortnight afterwards the accused a f ;ain called at witness's house, and said he had some more stuff, He said he had some, doubts as to how this lot of stuff waa got—whether the man who had sent it to him had come by it rightly. Witness said that if there were any doubts whatever about iu accused need not bring it to him. Accused said "Well, it is only a doubt I have get, and I will see about it." About si:c weeks later witness saw him again, and he said it was all right about that stuff. Witness then agreed to buy it at the same terui3, provided accused signed his name to a receipt, which he said he would do. On the 10th November he brought five inguts of copper, weighing 1021b, for which witness paid him L2 19s 6d. The first two ingois witness purchased he sold to Messrs Kincaid and M 'Queen. The other five irv-ots he placed in hi 3 back shop, and one of them he sent round in charge of a man nr.iiud Boxwell, to see what he could get for it. The man never came back with it, although Detective Henderson said that he did, and that he was traced back to witness's place. The remaining four ingots witness afterwards handed to the detectives.—At 6.40 p.m. the Court adjourned, and, there being two more witnesses for the prosecution, the accused was remanded until this morning.