GREY MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 August 1905, Page 4

GREY MAGISTRATE'S COURT

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25th, 1905

(Before J. Ja\vE?n., J.P- ; >" r l v> "- Mr "'- Vis. E.w,., .T.P.) \ndrow Clarke was charged with attempting 1" break and enter 11m shop of John .Smith, butcher, of rMaokball. lnpector Wilson prosecuted. A ecu sod was not represented by counsel. The Court resumed a.t 2 p.m. L. E. Morgan wo evidence, lint nothing fresh 'was adduced. Accused was duly cautioned, and then cave the following' evidence:—On Saturday afternoon, the 19th instant, T was coins from inv work to my house. I went down to Smith's shop about 8.30.p.m. or 9 p.m. same night from the Tost Office, and went back- to my house from Smith's with a. parcel in mv hand. I then went to Thomas's Hotel to'look Mr Smith. When T arrived there lie .was playing billiards. F wailed in the parlour while he was nlnying till 11 o'clock. I wasn't drunk. 1 luwl only two drinks. When I came out I went over to Long's, and then went down the street with three men.. We got onnosito Smith's butcher's shop, when one sa.id he bad a long wav to sro. I said "Come with mo" blithe preferred to <;o home. The track alongside the shop leads straight to my house, which is belling the shop. I walked down the track about two chains, forgettiiv* all about my meal. I then turned bark and jumped' the fence, and went to the back door of the shop. This wa.s about half-past eleven. T knocked at the berk door, and could not get a hearing. T then took bold of the knob and shook- the door, .and went round to the front. T knocked at the front door, but still T could not get a hearing. A man came down the road and said , "C!o (o the back." F went to the back, but there was nobody there as I came to the front again. 1 thought T saw a light through the latticework. T put mv hand on the when the Constable jumped from around the corner, put his hand on my shoulder, and said, '-You're- my prisoner. 1 charge vou with breaking and entering." I said. "I'm here for a parcel from the boy." I wanted my meat for Sunday. I told the Constable to call Mr Smith to sec if T had been breaking and entering. When Smith arrived, he said, "The string is alright, but the button has been touch

By the Inspector: I thought T saw a light in the shop, and went under the verandah to see if such was the case. The Bench committed accused to the Supreme Court for trial. The Supreme Court will sit at Hokitika on September 21st. , . ,

A second charge was preferred against Andrew Clrke, viz., Unit lie did break and enter the shop of John Smith, butcher, ot Blackball, and did therein commit a crime —to wit, theft. Inspector Wilson prosecuted.

John Smith said about the 29th July he missed certain articles from Ins shop while two pages in *is ledger were torn ent One pn."C contained the accuseds account. He enquired for the pork but could find no trace of it: neither had it been told. About a week later, the boy in the shop sent fur him, and stated Kdward Clarke's account was missing. He went down to the shop, and could not find Jt. tie recognised the candlestick produced as his; it was found in accused's hat. He went to accused's hut. and was shown s , snap, which he thought was similar to that missed from his shop. On the soap the boy had scratched "11. Neil," and on 'one of'the pieces found at his hut was the letter "N," and this is why lie thought it w,i< his soap, lie also missed some pork. These goods were in the shop on Saturday night and missed the following Monday

morning. liy the accused: The candle-tick might have been SWepl out of the shop, but lie did not think so.

11. Neilson, aged 14 years, also gave evidence.

Const able Cockery, in crews-examina-tion by Clarke, said accused told him that he had picked the soap up at the camp. The lieiieh dismissed the charge.