RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. Yesterday, (Before H. A. Stratford Esq., R.M.) ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 6977, 28 February 1890, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. Yesterda y , (Before H. A. Stratford Esq., R.M.) ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

Gtorge Monroe and William Crombio were charged with having, on the 25th day of February, assaulted and robbed John Shinneck of two pounds in money, a purse, pocket book, and pocket knife. Mr Butt appeared for the accused, and Inspector Thompson prosecuted. John ShuinecK, ft laborer, said he cam* to town last Monday with L 5 18s in his pooket, consisting of single notes and some silver. He met the acounod Orombi« List Monday at the Star and Garter Hotel, -tnd they had a drink together. They then went to the house of Jati* Lawson, and from that to the house next door. He returned to the first named house. He did not see Crombie again until about 9 at night at the Northern Hotol. Ho was by himself, and after having a drink they went into the billiard room and there he saw Monroe, and a man whoee name he did not know. The two accused and witness afterwards went to Lawson'a house. The three of them were sober enough to know what they were about. About two o'clock in the morning the two accunpd went outside together, and witness also went outside intending to go away. Outside the gate Monroe got hold of witness' arm and commenced pulling him about. He got clear of him, and commenced to walk towards the Commercial Hotel. He filled his pipe, and commenced smoking. When near tho bridge in Severn street he heard quick footsteps and recognised Crombie and Monroe. Monroe put his hands across witness' face, and Crombie put his hand into his (witness 1 ) pocket. Prosecutor struggled to get free, but was thrown to the ground. They robbed him of two pounds and some shillings in a purse, a pocket book, a knife and tobacco. His knife was in his waistcoat pocket. The knife produced -was witness. He had had the knife for about three months, and lately had had it ground. After the robbery witueio went toward* the beach,

ami lay thore till five o'clock in the morning, lie then wont to the police office and reported the mutter to the police. ' By Mr Butt : Witness came from the , liukatenunea on Monday. He dished a cheque for L 7 10s there. He went to iWolloy's Hotel on Sunday night. Ho , bought aomo snoods at Barclay's. He 1 spent about 29n at Barclay's. He could 1 not say how much he spent at Molloy's, but it wiih only a few Hhillings. He had 1 throo drinks on iho road down. He !ud | hia dinner at the Globe. To the beat of ! his recollection he had given the Court a j true account of what had transpired between the time he cume to Oamaru and two o'clock on the following morning. He could not auy how much money he had ■pout in Oamaru. He had lent a man ss, aud Crombio LI. He did not give any more money than that away. Orombie and Munro wtre aobor. Detective OBrien laid ho arrested Monroe in a brothel, and in hi* vest pocket found two 'knives, one being the ono produced. He also arrested Crombie in a hub in South Oamaru, and found 27s 6d in silver on him. Orombio recognised Shinneck on the street, and said he had made a mistake this time. When he saw the informant his face was scratched, and the back of his coat was covered with dust, as if ho had been down on the road. By Mr Butt: He arrested Monroe about 6.30 in the morning. Ho could not aay that he was asleep. Both the knives were in the same vest pocket. Monroe did not hand the knives to witness. William Wheelan, a laborer, s»id he saw Shiuueok on TuoHay, bub it might have been Monday. He was on tfce street in the company of a stranger, and they went to the Imperial Hotel. Shinneck pulled a number of notes out of his pocket, and after paying for the drinks gave witness ss. Shinneck and the stranger thea left. He saw Shinneok and Crombio Inter on in the Northern, and afterwards saw Shinueck and two men outside a brothel. Ak the Northern the taller man of the two wanted to fight, because ho (witness) had addressed Shinneck. By Mr Butt: Shinneck was sober when he saw him in the middle of the day. May Fitzgerald said Shinneck, Monroe, and Crombie were at Mrs Lawsons house on Monday night, iukl all three left about 12 o'clock. Crombie aud Munroe returned at daylight, and Munroe remained till he was arrested. By Mr Butt : When Shinneck left the house at midnight he was quite sober, ua were also the other two accused. liy Mr Butt : Shinneck did not spend any money, because he did not seem to have any. This closed the case for the prosecution. The accused were then committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court at Oamaru, on the 18th March.