RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 732, 12 November 1859, Page 4

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

CmasToiiUßcn—Tuesday,. Nov. 8.

(Before John Hall, Esq., R.M., and othev Justices, liAKCENT. , • •

Hugh Williams was brought up on a.charge of stealing a watch, the property of George Giggs, butcher, of Lyttelton,. which was valued at £9, from the Plough Inn, at lliccarton, on the 6th day of June last. The prisoner was brought upon Saturday the sth iimt.. but. was remanded till to-day for the production of further evidence. George Giggs deposed on .oath as: follows:—On the 6th day of June last I was staying at the Plough Inn, at Riccaiton. I had staid there the night previous. Prisoner slept in the same room with me. I got up .first on that morning, but only put my trowsers and cap,on. I left my waistcoat and coat in the room. I had a watch in my .waistcoat, pocket,,which was lying ..on ,the .top of my coat. The watch now produced is the one. I swear the watch is mine" from various, marks upon it, and also the number; which is 10,909. I was absent from the room about 10 minutes or a quarter of an. hour,-'and'when I. returned I met prisoner coming out of.the room. About 10 minutes after I went into the room,. I missed the watch from my waistcoat. I have not seen the watch till' now since I lost it. ■ By the Court—When I put on my .clothes and camo dovyn stairs, I. suspwte;d. two .persons. The prisoner is one, andi.another man who was in the house—a stranger to lhe. I immediately applied fora search-warrant against the stranger, which was executed; but nothing was found either in His boxes_ or lodging. I then suspected prisoner, and gave information. I value the watch at £9. ... Cross-examined by the prisoner—l did, not take a search-warrant out against you* because I did not know, where to find you., I left some money in my clothes when I went to bed that night, but not in my waistcoat pockety I did not miss any money at that time. I did' not hear that the stranger against whom I obtained a search-warrant was seen m the bedroom'where we slept. The money vvas in my trowsers'pocket, George Pearce deposed as follows:—I an a carpenter.and reside at Kaiapoi. About three or four months ago I was at work for Mr. Panckhurst at Woodend. The watch now produced is one I found in a .wateroloset at Mr. Panckhurst's; I told Mr, Panckhurst about it, who said he thought the watch had been stolen, and that it had been posted VTt Pf;llce as a watch lost, I left the Watch with Mr. Panckhuss^who told the police about it Edward Edwin Panckhurst:—lam a publican w l £eeD the Ci^ of CantevW public house at woodend. I know the prisoner, I have seen him at. my house. He was taken into custody at my house some months since. He was at the house aboutan hour and a half. The waterclosefc was the first pjaee he ; went to, whenhe came to my place After that he had some breakfast and went to bed' wherehe remained; till he was apprehended by the bubrlnspector of Police on a. charge of breakingopen a trunk at Kaiapoi. I cannot say whether prisoner returned to, the closet after being apprehended. I have seen the watch now produced It was brought to >me by the last witness about two months after the prisoner 'had been Jo my house, He showed, me where he found it—it was in the watercloset QY^rUha studs,;where it would be hidden from view. ,»I handed over the watch to the police. At 'the .Oouri at ;Kaiapof, prigoner, asked me ltshelett anythiiig;|ke atmy house. Crosis-eXamined .by-ferisoner :—You; had not to my knowledge been;at|iy house before the time I ha^e spokeiLj)f^^L^^^^ you , with wfteh,.;_jlfdxd,'not r!know of a watch being stolen' my after y.od; were' apprehended. evidencefor theprosecution. The prisoner declined 46. make aiiy -statement, was committed tQHaice^his -triaV-jlt,the ensnihe-siitin* of the Suprerae/Cour,^ ■;;".' . ,° ■ tlames Eule-and Thi)m,as ; Br'o6k;:bipth of ChristChurch, were4nedlOs; each:for having dogs unregistered; in -tKeir ippssession, and; also ordered to pay the registration fee (10s). .', .; . . . . : ■Several cases of debt were also disposed of, but most of them were; without interest. About '30 cases were on recorcl!ffor to-day.

Wednesday, Not. 9. ';.:' (Before John) Hall, Esq., B, H.) m i. WlTite ':iofl Lower W»coln Road, was ftned 40*. for an assault on a man named Michael Downey, who had obtained a;judgment against him tor-cattle trespass ;in jthe Resident Magistrate's Court. Upon the liittcr demanding the'amount he was assaulted by WJutfyand severely handled. The hne was paid, as also the judgment and costs; and the prisoner, after being severely cautioned, was discharged. ;.•-; .. \ . ;••■ ' Te. Paro v. Ko Kupere and Henere Te Wha (natives.) The plaintiffjtod defendants chose each a-Maori assessor. This was a case of damans (Sn med by Pkint. iff fro'?( def«ntlants, amountin^to £50, for committing adiiltery with his (Plaintiff's) rL, J ld Sment was f^ £30 and costs, as plaintitt s wife and both defer|lan{s aa.mitted the offence. In default of payment one month imprisonment* One-of the defendants paid his iin,e. :; j