HAWERA RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 6, 1 May 1880, Page 3

HAWERA RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Friday, 80th April. (Before Captain Wilson and J. Livingston, Esq., J,P.'s.) William Cole, a respectable - looking young man, about 25 years of age, was charged, on the information of Joseph Wilson, of the Ketemarae Hotel, with having on the 28th instant stolen one lady's gold diamond hoop ring, one lady's gold diamond ring, and one red blanket. Joseph Wilson, examined by Sergeant Cahill, stated that he knew the prisoner. On Wednesday, the 28th inst., he missed two- diamond rings — one a diamond ring with five stones, hoop pattern, the other a diamond ring, horse-shoe pattern, set with pe;rls and emeralds. Mrs. Wilson went ttp stairs, at about a quarter to 10 p.m., and called witness, and informed him that the rings were missing. Witness last saw the rings at about 1 o'clock on Wednesday. It was not till the lollowing morning that he missed the other property. He suspected the prisoner of the robbery. Prisoner was a boarder at his house. He went into the accused's bedroom, and searched his clothes in the presence of Constable Wellon, who went up with him. Witness then come to Hawera, and reported the matter to the police. The sergeant came to witness's hotel the following morning and mode a particular search in the prisoner's bedroom, but -without effect. A search was also made in the other bedrooms' and sitting-room. On the morning of the 29th inst., witness missed a red blanket, nearly new, from one ol the bedrooms. Saw the rings this morning in the hands of,the police. [Rings and blankets produced.] The rings were his (witness's) property, and the blanket was also, to the best of his belief. The room where the rings were was not usually kept locked. The accused was never employed by him, and was not supposed to go upstairs ; but on the night of the 28th inst., he slept upBtairs, as he had asked permission of Mrs. Wilson to do so, telling her that he wanted to go on a long journey the following morning. ' In consequence, Mrs. Wilson gave him permission to sleep upstairs. William Creighton, a laborer, residing at the* Ketemarae Hotel, deposed that he bad been employed on the survey, lint had been cooking for a fortnight for Mr. Wilson, until the girl oame. Witness went down on Thursday morning, with the intention of going to Wanganui, expecting that he would meet the prisoner, as he suspected him of the robbeiy. Witness overtook the accused at Brett and Johnston's hotel, Normanby. Witness told the prisoner he was going to Wanganui, and wished to go with him. Went across to McGregor's Hotel, and had a gloss of beer each. They both came down to Hawera, andwento into Lloyd's Hotel. The prisoner opened his swag, and took out s white shirt, a collar, and a necktie. They next went over to Owen's Hotel, and the prisoner left his swag there. The accused had two glasses of beer there, and witness had one. They went from there to the brewery, where they hod two glasses of beer more, and then started on the road to Manutahi. When they got about a quarter of a mile down the road, the prisoner said to witness, " You'd look very foolish if I had the rings." Witness replied that there was no fear of that. The prisoner then ■ sat down on the side of the road, and { pulling off one boot, took one of the rings i out of it. He then put the ring back, and put the boot on again. (Two rings pro- i auoed.) Witness identified one as that shown to him on the road. Witness ; asked the prisoner if he had the other : ring, and he replied that he had not. They had a drink of beer when they got j to Manutahi. Prisoner was complaining 1 of his feet b ing sore, and witness ad- : vised him to take his boots off. The : prisoner accordingly did so, and witness . took up one of the boots, and took the ; other ring from it. The one produced ; was the ring — a lady's gold diamond ring, ; horse-shoe pattern. When witness found ] the ring, he showed it to prisoner, and • asked him why he did not show it to him. The prisoner said, "Oh l it was 1 only a lark." The prisoner said he would i dispose of the ring in Wanganui, and wit- i ness asked h<m not to sell one of them, as j it was a keepsake which had been given ; to Mrs Wilson. Witness then telegraphed from Manutahi to Sergeant Cahill, who i went down, and with Const ible Shiel, ] searched the prisoner, who was still lying 1 on the Bofa. The reason witness did not , return to Hawera, after he saw the first - ring, was because he wanted to find out whether the prisoner had the other ring. After the prisoner had taken off his boots ] at .Manutahi, he' put them on again, • stating that a search might be made. In the early part of the evening of the robbery, the prisoner seemed to be a little ■ the worse of liquor ; but between 8 and 9 ' o'clock he appeared to be sober. Prisoner-— Creighton, you say I showed you a ring between Hawera and Manu- i tahi ; Ido not remember doing so. I Witness— You did, Cole. j Prisoner — Did you not say that you i would wear the ring on your finger, if you ] hadit? ' I Witness — I did not, Prisoner — Did you not. say, after you got to Manutahi; fchat you would sell the ring in "Wangamii for .J6lO. Witness — Yes ; I had to say something. Prisoner (in answer to the police) said he would ask no more questions of the witness, as he would not tell the truth. I Sergeant Cahill was proceeding to give his evidence, when the prisouer fainted, 1 and in consequence the case was adjourned until 9 o'clock this morning.