Our Own "Sweet William."

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 78, 10 December 1887, Page 2

Our Own "Sweet William."

A GISBORNE ADVENTURER. IN THE HANDS OF THE PHILISTINES. Tax name and career of William Brown alias William Smith, etc., or a* he may be better identified, William Smith-Brown, 1* now a matter of history in Gisborne, and the outcome of his latest adventure has been closely watched here. It was thought that William would have been too smart for the Auckland people, and they have not proved a match for him yet. He was charged at the Auckland Supreme Court on Wednesday with having obtained ten shillings and a quantity of clothing under false pretences. He pleaded guilty to this charge, sentence being deferred. Tha prisoner was then charged with obtaining a large quantity of goods from Louis Lyons Levy, on the representation that he wa* Mr Pratt, an auctioneer in business at PoDaonby, and that the premises were hie own. To this charge he pleaded not guilty. The case for the prosecution was as follows:—The prosecutor, a general dealer, in business in Hobson street, saw the accused for the first time on the 28th of July, when he came to hi* shop and represented himself as 8. M. Pratt, and asked prosecutor to purchase certain goods whioh he had for sale. They proceeded to Mr Pratt’e premises, corner of Ponsonby and Franklin roads. Mr Pratt was absent, and the prisoner led Mr Levy to believe that he was Mr Pratt, and showed him the goodsHowever, Mr Levy did not purchase, and next day prisoner called on Mr Levy and asked him to let him have goods to dispose of, and he gave him'the goods mentioned in tha indictment. Mr Levy attended the sale and then discovered that prisoner was not Pratt but Smith, and the excuse he gave was that he found the money, and that he was really the firm of Pratt and Co. A cheque whioh he gave Mr Levy in payment was dishonoured, and hence the proceedings. After hearing the evidence, the jury retired before the midday adjournment, and, on the Court resuming, the foreman announced that the jury wae unable to agree. His Honor asked whether there was any question on which he could assist him. At the request of the foreman' His Honor read over Levy’s evidence. The juty again retired, and returned to Court at five o'clock, and asked whether the verdict of a majority would be accepted. It appeared that one juror was dissentient, but His Honor informed them that he could not help them, and they could not be released until they had been locked up twelve hours. A later telegram states that the jury had to be discharged and therefore a new trial will take place.