RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5527, 1 November 1879, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Fkiday, October 31. (Before Messrs Kennedy and Newton, J.P.'s.) DRUNKENNESS. W. Henry Looby, charged with drunkenness, failed to appear, and his security of £1 was forfeited. larcEneY. The hearing of the charge of larceny against Thomas Taggart was resumed.

George Smith, kitchen-boy at the Pacific Hotel, deposed that he had received a cheque, on the 18th of the present month, for wages. He changed it at tho baker's, receiving three £1 notes, the numbers of which he took down on a piece of paper (produced). At 12 o'clock on the evening of the 21st, when going to bed, he had the money in a purse in his trousers-pocket. Next morning tho clothes seemed to have been interfered with, and the money had been taken, but the memo, with the number of the notes was left. He informed the billiardmarker of his loss, and Mrs Olist was told about it, and finally Taggart was charged with the theft. Prisoner denied having taken the money, but said he would borrow £3 and give it to witness, although it did not belong to him. Prisoner went up to Bee's, and came back with the money. Witness, however, saw him pull out some money before he reached Bee's house. On coming back prisoner gave three £1 notes to Mr Clist, who handed them to witness about half-an-hour afterwards. Witness handed Mr Clist the paper with the numbers of the notes before he got the money. Witness always made a practice of taking down the numbers of notes. He could not read, but was able to write. Mr Lee asked the Bench to deal summarily with the offence. Prisoner had taken tho money, but there was no premeditation. He had been drinking heavily from the time of the agricultural show, and was always "muddled." He bore an excellent character. Colonel Lambert said he had known the prisoner for ten or twelve years, and had always found him civil, steady, industrious, and of gocd,TVrinciple. He had given satisfaction wherever he had worked, and assisted in the support of his mother, who was 84 years of age. The Magistrates were sorry to see the prisoner in such a position ; but there was no doubt that the crime had been committed by him. He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labor.