CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 7406, 29 December 1887, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Thursday, December 29. (Before Messrs E. H. Carew, R.M., and G. E. Eliott, J.P.) Drunkenness. James King, Timothy Byrne, Christian Vecket, and John Connor were each fined ss, or twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. Ann Jane Seals (fifty-one previous convictions) promised never to appear again, but the Bench expressed the opinion that she was unable to keep her promises, and fined her 40s, or fourteen days’ imprisonment. Disorderly Behaviour. — William Joseph Brushwood, a first offender, was fined 5s or twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. Breach of the, Factory Act,— Robert Johnston was charged with having, on the 23rd inst., unlawfully employed one Lotty Burgess at 8.15 p.m., contrary to the Employment of the Factory Act.—lnspector Hanson gave evidence as to the finding of two girls working at sowing machines on the evening mentioned. He had no knowledge of Mr Johnston having committed a breach of the Act before.—Serjeant-major Bevin, however, stated that Johnston was fined on the 30th January, 1882, for a similar offence.—Defendant was fined 40s and costs. Stealing. — Eliza Whittet was charged with having, on or about March last, stolen two watches, two chains, one locket, one guard, and tour shillings in money, all the property of Charles W. Smith, and valued at Lls. Chief Detective Henderson said that the theft had been committed some nine months ago, but the police had only succeeded in tracing some of the articles yesterday through a woman called Ann Sherry, who gave information. He called Charles Smith, warehouseman, who deposed; I live at The Glen road, Mornington. In March last my wife had a gold watch and chain, and my daughter a silver watch and albert, I estimate the values of the several articles as follows: Gold chain worth about L 4 ; gold watch about L 6 6s; silver watch about L2 15s; silver chain about LI 10s; and the locket about LI. All the articles were in a small drawer in the chest of drawers, standing in the front bedroom. The jewellery was first missed about 11 p.m. on the 21st March last. I saw the jewellery last on the ( night previous to the evening on which it was missed. The gold chain had a locket attached to it in addition to the watch. Detective Maddcrn showed me the gold chain yesterday. To the accused: I know the chain by the loop being open, and its general appearance.— Elizabeth Smith, wife of the last witness, stated that she missed the jewellery about the 21st March. She would not be quite positive as to the day. She missed it when she went to the drawer to give her husband the watch to wind, and the gold watch-chain and locket belong to her, and are all attached to each other. The drawer containing them was unlocked. Witness also missed money from a shell box standing upon the chest of drawers. She last saw the jewellery at three o’clock the same day. She identified the chain produced as hers.— Walter G. Eossitcr, assistant to Mr Solomon, pawnbroker, George street, remembered taking a some time ago from a person called Nellie Collins. On the 7th September last he received a chain similar to the one produced. It was marked 9 carat; so was the one produced. _He could not remember from whom he received the chain, but on reference to the book found that he had entered it in the name of Nellie Collins. It is the usual custom to enter all pledges. The number of this pledge is 1,032. When he received the pledge he put the ticket on it himself with the corresponding number.. The ticket with the same number must be produced before any article can be redeemed. Cross-examined ; I know there is a person called Nellie Collins, but cannot say I know her. Nellie Collins was here asked to stand up in Court, and the witness continued : I did not receive the chain from her. I have received more articles than one in the name of Nellie Collins. I know of no other Nellie Collins in Dunedin. The chain was given out by another assistant (Callaghan). Nellie Coilins had not redeemed any of the articles herself. By accused: I did not weigh the chain. I have not seen the chain since I took it in until yesterday. —Mary Ann Keesham, living in Filleul street, said that accused lived next to her in March last. Witness bought a long gold lady’s chain from the prisoner about that time, to the best of her recollection. Accused told witness that her husband had bought the chain for her when in better circumstances at Lawrence. Witness trusted it was all right, whereupon- accused replied: “If there is anything w-rong I would not trust you, you are too fond of speaking to the police.” Witness paid accused 10s for the chain. Cross-examined : I kept the chain three months, and then sold it to Nellie Collins (who lives with me), and a small gold watch. I think the chain produced is the same. I never looked at the chain after selling it to Nellie Collins. By accused : I could not swear the chain is the same ; there are so many chains like it. I offered to lend you money on it as you said you did not want to part with it.— Ellen Collins deposed that she bought a lady’s long gold chain and a watch from Mrs Keesham, and kept it about two months, wearing it off and on. To the best of witness’s knowledge the chain produced was the same. Witness sent the chain to pledge, she did not recollect by whom. The person sent brought back a ticket and 10s. Witness gave the ticket to Ann Sherry as a present about four or five weeks ago, and witness bought the chain about five or six months ago.—Charles Callaghan, accountant at Mr Solomon’s, remembered Ann Sherry redeeming a gold chain on November 5 pledged by Nellie Collins. Number of pledge was 1,032 of 1887. Fresh numbers are issued every year. It was a lady’s long gold chain similar to the one produced. By accused: Its value would probably be about L2.—Ann Smith alias Sherry said that about six weeks ago she redeemed a lady’s chain at Solomon’s pawn office. Nellie Collins gave her the ticket as a present. To Detective Henderson : I handed the chain and my watch to Detective Maddern yesterday. The chain produced is the one I redeemed. By the accused: I handed the detective the chain because I owe Mrs Keesham an injury. They locked me up on Christmas Day. There is plenty of stolen property at her house. I get my living at the sale-rooms. Sometimes I keep a house of 511-fame. It is my business how many tim f s I have been in prison. I have never been charged with stealing—only with getting drunk. I knew the chain was stolon, for I am a bit of an Egyptian. I dreamt it had been stolen, so I “blew the gaff.”— Kate Cleaver, residing in Lees street, said that she stayed with her mother at Argyle street, Mornington, in March last. Smith’s house was about as far as from the Court to the Post Office, Witness know the accused. Remembered the 21st March last. Constable Sullivan had called to see witness that clay. On the same day witness saw the accused coming from the direction of the prosecutor’s house, that was in Argyle street, coming from Glen avenue. It was about three or four o’clock in the afternoon. Witness had seen' accused before at her (accused’s) shop in Filleul street. Witness had bought groceries from her on more than one occasion. Mr Smith (re-called) said that he reported the. articles as missing to Constable Sullivan. By accused: He valued the chain at about L 4. Accused: The pawnbroker says L2. There must be a discrepancy somewhere.—Detective Madden and Constable Sullivan also gave evidence. Detective Henderson said he had a witness who actually saw the accused next door, but through illness in the family he was unablo to-attend.—-In answer to the Bench, accused. said: “I sold the-chain to Mrs Keesham." I have had it for'over sixteen years. Mrs Keesham bought" the chain, with other articles of when I broke : up my home. Had it been stolen I would not have gone to her. The chief witness is worse than a common she keeps a bad house, but spends the best' part of her life in prison.”—AccupefTwas committed for trial.