MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

North Otago Times, 2 December 1910, Page 1

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

YESTERDAY,

(Before Mb T. Hutchison,. S-M.)i

George King was charged that on November 17 he did steal one silver watch, valued at 10s, the property of Charles Kearns, A charge of stealing five watches ..valued at £3 17s 6d and involving tha same set of circumstances had /been laid against Martin King, but the prosecution had) tendered no! evidence. The accused George King pleaded not guilty,' and was defended- by Mr Ongley, . - Charles Reams; second-hand dealer of Tyne street, said that on November 17th he left, his shop 'between 12 and 1 o'clock, no one being in charge.- A number of watches, of which that produced was one, were hanging! in the window.- When he got up to 'his house he told Mrs Shore that he had left the shop open, land shq went down fo lock it. When she came back B he asked whore he .had put the watches. He went down to the shop and found) five watches were missing, Later in of}fa> /towierttalllon: w'< ttt Martin King-he informed the police. To Mr, Ongley: He had never had reason to suspect/accusod <of «ny thefts. The four other watches were found on Saturday' as the result of a search made by Mrs Shore. Beatrice! Shore said that on November 17 she. went down about ono o'clock; to, lock up, Mrf iKeairns' shop, She did not notice whether tho , watches!-, were in the shop or not; but she asked Mr. Kearns afterwards if he had them in his pocket. She would , swear that she never gave any.. watch to accused. When the four other watches- were found she and Mr Kearns were, searching for them together. To Mr Ongley.: Accused was not up at her, place on Thursday n ! uht and he did not obtain the watch from her . then or at any other time. Constable Langmuir, said that he questioned accused, who at first did not wish to say anything in regard to the watch for fear be should be dragged into the matter. /He then said he got it from Mrs Shore on the Friday night. This concluded the case for prosecution, . DtA'endant giving evidence on his own behalf; said that'. 14 obtained the 1 watch from Mrs Shore on the night of the 18th, when he was up at her place. He put* the watch in Ms Pocket and later his mother found it there and took it away. • His Worship expressed dissatisfaction with defendant's conduct, but said -he could not convict him. The information would be dismissedMartin' King,, father, of the previ- : ons defendant, was.charged with.re- - ceiving a watch knowing It to ■be"

dishonestly obtained, He. pleaded not guilty and was* defended by Mr Ongley./ . Charles Kearns said that he saw defendant with the watch produced, and asked him where he got it. He said that he'_took it in exchange for some work he did. Before saying this witness told accused he was interested in the watch. Constable Langmuir said defendant when asked where he got the watch said that ho' got it off the table in his room. He knew nothing ' more, Mrs King, who was standing near also said she knew nothing more. Sergeant Stagpoole said that defendant told him at the station that he found the watch on his table on Sunday morning., When asked it he' made any inqjuiries as to where it came from he said that he did not. ' To Mr Ongley: 'Witness, did not think ; at that time that defendant was trying to shieldi his son, Mr Ongley offered' to call evidence for the defence, but his worship said he did not require this, and dismissed the information,