POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealander, Volume XXIV, Issue 2611, 14 March 1866, Page 3

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

[Monday.] (Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., R.M.) uuuGLAnr. Bryant Corcoran, William Perry, William Goldsmith, and Alexander Burton were charged with breaking into the house of Thomas Cotter. The first witness called was Edward Cotter, who deposed : I am a cabinet-maker, residing in Queenstreet. On Thursday morning hist, about half-past three o'clock, while I was in bed in my own house, I was awoke, and saw the form of a man about a yard and a half from me. He was standing looking at me. I jumped up, and grasped him by the throat. It was dark, and I could not swear distinctly to the man, but I believe it was the prisoner Goldsmith. I forced him into the next room, and there I saw another man. I cannot swear positively to the man, but I believe him to be the prisoner Perry. Whilst I was scuffling with the man I had seized, I was struck three or four blows on the back with a heavy weapon by the person I believe to be the prisoner Perry. I then called out to my brother for assistance, when I received a very heavy blow upon the ear, which felled mo to the ground. I believe it to have been struck with a life-preserver. Neither of the persons spoke. I remained insensible for more than a quarter of tin hour.

By the prisoner Goldsmith: I recollect seeing you in the guard-room on Thursday last. I said then that I could not swear to you. By the Court: I have not missed anything out of the house. Mary Cotter deposed : I am the sister of the last witness, and reside in Queen-street with him. On Thursday morning, about half-past three o'clock, I was awakened by the last witness calling out for help. I was sleeping in a room over the One that he was sleeping in. When I heard my brother call out for help, I got up aud pulled the window blind up, and looked out into the back yard. I saw the prisoner Goldsmith running up the yard. I have no doubt whatever that Goldsmith is the man I saw running up the yard. 1 then went down stairs, and saw my brother lying on his bed. He was cut aud bleeding, but he was sensible at that time.

By the prisoner Goldsmith : I know you by your general appearance, I have no doubt but you (ire the man. Thomas Cotter deposed : I am the son of Thomas Cotter, brother to the two last witnesses. On Thursday morning last I heard some one crying out. (Life-preserver produced.) I found this about half-past six o'clock under a table which was near the window where the borglars had made au entrance.

15y the prisoner Perry : I was in the house when you were brought in by the policeman. Constable John Morrision deposed : About half-past three o'clock on Thursday morning last I was on duty in Queon-street. My attcnion was attracted by hearing three or four distinct whistles. I went to the place from whence the sound came, and there I saw the prisoner Perry in front of the Thistle Hotel, in Queen-street. Mr. Cotter's house is about 120 yards distant, on the opposite side of the street. Perry had neither cap, trousers, nor hoots. I asked what he was whistling for, and he said it was for a dag. Thinking he was a lodger at the Thistle Hotel, I went back to my beat; and when I got as far as Mr. Cotter's house, I heard the bolt forcibly drawn hack, and Mr. Cotter's brother called out for the police. lie told me there were robbers in the house, and I was told to gojto the back to intercept them. I did so, out, found no one. I got constable Murphy, and wo made a diligent search, when Murphy picked up a cap ( produced) in the room adjoining where the entrance had been effected. I theu went in search of the prisoner Perry, and found him at the foot of Wakefieldstreet, speaking to constable Watts. I asked the constable what Perry was doing there, and he said he was looking for his mate Goldsmith, with whom ho had been in company during the night. Goldsmith was described as a short man with a long coat. I apprehended Perry, and took him to the guard room. The left knee of his drawers was covered with Llood. I asked him how the Mood camo there, and lie said he could not tell. On Thursday morning, about eight o'clock, constable Murphy and myself apprehended the prisoner Corcoran iu Jones's house, at the foot

of Upper Queen-street. He is a private in the 14th Regt. He was dressed as he is now. except, that he had no boots. The soles of his stockings were covered witli dark yellow clay of the same colour as that in Mr. Cotter's yard. I was present when the ammuuitiou boots produced were shown to Corcoran, and he said they were not his. They are marked " 1631, 2nd 14th. I was present when the boots produced with elastic sides were shown to the prisoner Burton. lie denied that they wore his. He fitted on one, and said they fitted him, but that they were not his. Ho had a pair of boots on (produced), which he said he had bought in a shop next the Trafalgar Hotel. The life-preserver produced was shown to Burton, who said that he bad never seen it.

Constable James Murphy deposed as to the finding of two pairs of boots in Cotter's yard, one pair marked " 1,631, 2nd 14th;" the other pair, which are heavy elastics, were tried on by Perry, but they did not fit him. Goldsmith said that he was in Jones's house from half past twelve on Thursday morning, till half-past eight, and that he slept with a woman named Caroline Rudd. At first he denied all knowledge of the life-preserver, but afterwards admitted that he had seen it with a man named Conuell.

Sergeant-Alnjor Molloy deposed to the apprehension of Burton on Friday. Remarking that the boots he had on were too tight, he asked Burton where he had got them, and he said he bad exchanged them with a man named John Theodore Lucas, a pianist at Jones's dancing-room, in Upper Queenstreet.

Other witnesses having been examined, the prisoners, who declined to make any statement, were committed to take their trial at the next criminal sessions of the Supreme Court.

[TC S'-AY.] Four men, named Cribb, Stevens, McGregor, and Adams, seamen belonging to the ship 'Liverpool,'were charged with being drunk and disorderly on board that vessel, aud also with breaking open cargo and abstracting a quantity of brandy, sherry, and other wines, of the value of about £lB. The charge of broaching the cargo was withdrawn against Adams; but be was fined 40s. and costs for being drunk and disorderly. The other prisoners were found guilty, aud ordered to pay the full value of the embezzled goods out of their wages, and in addition to be imprisoned for twelve weeks with hard labour.