ALLEGED HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2274, 16 July 1881, Page 3

ALLEGED HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

In the Ashburton Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday (before Mr J. Nugent Wood, E.M.), James White, James Carey, Jane Brown, and Margaret Sutton were charged (on remand) with highway robbery from James Kennedy, at South Bakaia, Sergeant Felton prosecuted. The prisoners were undefended. James Kennedy, laborer, Bakaia, deposed, that on Monday evening week, having £26 in notes of various values, he saw White at the bar of the Railway Hotel, Bakaia, and gave him a drink, tendering the barmaid £l, and receiving change. White said he had camped across Bakaia bridge a couple of chains on the north side of the river, and asked witness to tea, adding that he (White) had a couple of “fowls” from Christchurch with him, meaning women. Witness

accepted tho invitation, and saw tho two women and Carey, After tea witness returned with White and Jane Brown to Bakaia. Witness and Jane Brown went into a hotel and had drink, White staying outside. They had more drink in the South Bakaia Hotel, and witness bought a bottle of brandy and a flask, tendering a £5 note, and receiving four sovereigns and silver in change. White wished to go to the play, and witness gave him 3s 6d, and returned to the camp with Jane Brown. Carey and Sutton were there, and nearly all the brandy was drank. Witness was affected by the liquor, and went to sleep. White returned and woke up witness, who did not again see the females. _ Some time during the night Carey had witness’s arms pinioned behind him. At that time both women were present, and Jane Brown had hold of witness’s throat. She took the notes out of his pocket, but not the silver. While being robbed witness hit out and tried to get away. He failed, being nearly choked and “silly.” Jane Brown scratched his face and bit him. One of the prisoners—he could not say which—cried out, “ Fling him in the river” ; but another replied, “Don’t do that; let him lie where he is.” Witness lay thus

for a time. On getting up he saw that the women and White had gone, and Oarey remained. Presently White returned and | asked, “ Where are they ?” Witness replied that they had left, and had taken his money. White then ransacked witness’s pockets, taking the silver. Witness went to the Bakaia Police Station. Beturning ho found White asleep, shook him, and asked for the money. He answered, “ Keep quiet, and put the ‘bobbies’ on them.” Witness lay down and again fell asleep. On waking he noticed that White had gone. Witness also missed a knife. He did not think Margaret Sutton had anything to do with the robbery. Wit-

E 686 next wont to the Eakaia Hotel, and told the barman what had happened. Witness saw the prisoners and followed them. i hey went into a paddock. A man named Mackay was there wrangling with the prisoners. Ultimately witness sent a telegram to the police at Ashburton. Thoa. Ocphin, barman at the South Eakaia, deposed to selling Kennedy a bottle and a flask of brandy (produced) on the sth inst Jos. Wallace, landlord of Ohertsey Hotel, deposed that he sold the prisoners drink on the sth inst., giving them change for a £5-note. After buying more drink, they left by train for Ashburton. H. Francis, stationmasler, Ohertsey, deposed that on the sth inst. ho sold tickets for Timaru to the prisoners, and that they left by tram. John Commander, bridge keeper, Rakaia,

deposed that ho saw the prisoners on the 4th inst., making from the Christchurch direction. Carey asked for something to eat, and was directed to a shop. Witness saw smoke rise from the breakwater, as it from a camp. In the evening Kennedy and another man crossed the bridge, and made for the camp. Kelt morning, a man (apparently young) crossed the plain, and at ten o’clock Kennedy, whose face Tfas stained with blood, spoke to witness. Witness went to the camp, and found a brandy bottle, a flask, a battered pannikin, and two knives. There wore signs of a scuffle. Constable House, stationed at Rakaia, deposed to the arrest and searching of the prisoners at Ashburton on the sth instant. They arrived by the second train from Christchurch. Witne'e, accompanied by Constable Smart, entered a railway carriage, and apprehended prisoners. Carey handed over his puree. It contained £l9 in notes, and a sovereign. He said his father had given him the money. At the police station Brown

handed over three £1 notes, and Sutton a purse containing le and a Chinese coin. Constable Smart corroborated Constable Rouse's evidence. Colin Mackey deposed to seeing the prisoners divide money on the sth inst, in a paddock below Rakaia. Sergeant Felton deposed to tbe searching of the prisoners, who reserved their defence, and were committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Conrt at Christchurch. The same four prisoners were then charged with assaulting and robbing Colin Mackay on the stfa inst. Having changed £1 for five drinks, witness accompanied White to a camp in a paddock. White asked witness to sit down, and spread some clothes on the grass to protect witness from the damp. When he sat down White caught him by tbe throat, and then threw him back, calling Carey to assist. They searched witness’s pockets. White held an open knife doss to witness's throat. Witness’s life was threatened, and his pockets riflsd of 17s 6a, a pipe (produced), and some tobacco. Witness, on getting up, said ho would inform the police. The male prisoners told him he’d better not. The women were rolling up swags. Witness that morning sold his watch to a blacksmith ont at the Rakaia. John Stewart, manager of a farm at North Rakaia, deposed that Colin Mackay was in hie employ. About five weeks ago Mackay bought two pipes, and gave witness one. Shortly afterwards witness broke his pipe, and ha and Mackay then exchanged, the latter saying he would mend the broken one. Witness identified the pipe produced. Thomas Oephin, barman, deposed to receiving a £1 note from Mackay for drinks, and giving him change. The prisoners left the hotel with Mackay and wont towards Ohcrtsey. James Kennedy gave corroborative evidence in support of the charge. The four prisoners were committed for trial on this charge also at the next sitting of the Supreme Court at Christchurch. One of the male prisoners asked if bail would be allowed. The Magistrate—“ Yes ; each prisoner in £SOO, and two sureties of £250 each.” [Laughter.] On the rising of the Court the Magistrate explained that he had specified prohibitory bail, as the two male prisoners had been convicted eight and four times respectively.