LOCAL NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 17, 23 March 1866, Page 3

LOCAL NEWS.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. This Day. [Before J. Poynter, Esq., R. M.] SHEEP STKAXING. The Magistrate, addressing Mr. Pitt, said he had carefully looked over the depositions taken in the ■case of Eanzelow, on Saturday last, and in comparing them with those taken yesterday he was not able to find any material difference between- them. Under those circumstances he felt that he would be obliged to commit Fanzelow for trial. Mr. Pitt said he thought he would be able to show one or two points in the evidence taken yesterday, that presented the case in a more favorable aspect; for the prisoner. If, however, his worship had made up his mind to send the case for trial,, it would be only a waste of time to go further into it now. ; The Magistrate said it would be unwise to go through the depositions again. Under the circumstances it would be better to send the case to a jury. It was a very proper case for them to decide upon aad not for the Magistrate.

Mr. Pitt said if the Magistrate had made up his mind he would say nothing further. The accused was then committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, to be held on the 16th May next. Bail was accepted, the sureties being Mr. H. Fanzelow and Mr. H. V. Phillips. LARCENY. W. M'Grath was brought up on a charge of stealing £i 5 from Robert Pierce, at the Albion Hotel. The statement made by the police was that the accused slept in the same room as complainant at the Albion Hotel. The hitter on going to bed had 14 soys. and two half soys. in his pocket. On getting up in the morning he missed his money, and suspecting the prisoner, who had gone out, followed him as far ; as the Parsonage, at the gate of which he overtook him, and charged him with the robbery. Prisoner was brought to the lock-up and searched, when four soys. and some silver were found in his pocket. A constible was sent back to search, and near the gate of the parsonage he found seven soys. The prisoner had applied to Mr. Shallcrass for relief and had received a temporary snpply. He said li 3 was from Melbourne, and had been about a week in Nelson. Unfortunately, the business of the prosecutor called him away to Sydney, and he was not present to appear against the accused this morning. On Mr. Shttllorass making this statement the Magistrate addressed the prisoner as follows. lam very sorry the prosecutor is not here to proi'e the case against you. I have no doubt from the circumstances that you are the guilty party. If the complainant should come here again, you will be brought up again, and if an information be laid against you, you wilt be tried for ths offence. You are now dismissed. THIMBLE RIGGING. Michael Ward was informs. l against, for playing unlawful games of chance on the race course, on the 21st instunt. Mr. Pitt, for the prisoner, admitted that he had been gambling, but he saw other persons gambling all around him, who were not stopped by the police, aud thought lie might be allowed to gamble too. If the police had cautioned him he would have removed. Under the circumstances, he hoped the court would deal leniently with the prisoner. His Worship : What do you call lenient ? Do j'ou mean to say he is a poor innocent ? Mr. Pitt : Certainly not, but it is hardly fair to show favor to one class of gamblers, and single out the prisoner above all others. Mr. Sliallerass : The prisoner would not have been interfered with but he was seen to take advantage of a great many persons before he was apprehended. He was swindling them in so barefaced a manner that the police could not tolerate it any longer. They saw him bet a man £W to .£5 that the pea was not on the board, and the party who betted became an easy dupe. The constables did not interfere till they had seen the prisoner fleece several persons. The Magistrate : The smallest sentence I can give, him is three months' imprisonment with hard labor. Prisoner : Can I appeal, your Worship. No answer was given, and the prisoner was remanded. Race Ball. — We understand the Race Ball in the Provincial Hall last evening was attended by about 8J ladies and gentlemen of the town and district. The uui3ic was good, ami dancing was kept up with great spirit from about nine o'clock when the ball commenced, till between three and four o'clock this morning. Not having been 'supplied with the usual complimentary tickets, which must be attributed, we presume, to the ignorance of the management, the information we furnish is from hearsay only. Stbamer Wallaby.— Telegram to Messrs. N. Edwards & Co., dated Hokitika, noon this day, reports, Wallaby detained, strong southerly weatlier. Bound for Grey and Nelson.