NAPIER MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 199, 9 August 1911, Page 5

NAPIER MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

THIS DAY

(Before Mr. S. E. McCarthy, S.M.)

ALLEGED THEFT.

William McCarthy and Edward Ryan, alias James O’Brien, both of Napier, were charged on the information of Detective Cassells with stealing from the dwelling of Claud Fox one watch of the value of £5, the property of one Thomas Daniels. Detective Cassels stated that Mr Daniels was a boarder at the Albion Hotel and left his watch hanging up on the wall in his room He missed it, but later demanded it from a man called McCarthy who handed the watch up. Thomas Daniels, a porter at the Albion Hotel, deposed that he went out of his room about 5.30 yesterday morning, and left his watch hanging on the wall. Did not lock or shut the door. At about 8 o’clock witness went back, searched the room, and found his watch missing. Witness went out into Hastings street with another man named Noon. He saw two men, and identified both as the prisoners in the dock. Witness met McCarthy and told him to give up his watch or he would have him locked up. McCarthy gave it to him. Witness identified the watch produced as his own. It was worth between £3 and £4. Neither of the prisoners were boarders. To Edward Ryan: McCarthy was by himself; no one was talking to him. Ryan was not in company with McCarthy . John Noon, engineer, and a boarder at the Albion Hotel, deposed that he occupied a cottage at the back of the hotel, and was there about 7.30 yesterday morning. Witness heard the sound of footsteps going up the passage and heard them enter several rooms. A little later he saw McCarthy walking away. He afterwards went out into Hastings street and saw the men in the street and spoke to McCarthy, the other walking away. He asked McCarthy for the watch and it was handed to Daniels. Cross-examined witness said he would not swear that the accused. Ryan, was the man who was with McCarthy when the xvatch was stolen, but he looked very much like him.

Thomas Patterson, labourer, l said he resided at the Albion Hotel, ; and had heard people walking , about in the cottage and opened ; his door and looking down the passage saw a man with a felt hat resembling the accused Ryan in , stature . He would not swear that Ryan was the man. Cecelia Newman, housemaid at the Albion, said she saw a man like Ryan standing at the door of the cottage behind the hotel. She would not swear it was Ryan, but he looked very much like the man. She also saw McCarthy in the yard. Detective Cassels detailed his arrest of Ryan, who denied being at the Albion Hotel or that he knew McCarthy. The latter also said that he did not know Ryan. When accosted Ryan did not try to hide his identity. His Worship dismissed the case against Ryan as the evidence was too weak. He considered there was. however, a case against McCarthy. The latter reserved his defence / and pleaded not guilty to theft of the watch, though he admited receiving it. He was committed to take his trial on September st-h, at the Napier Supreme Court.