POLICE COURT.-Monday.

New Zealand Herald, 24 November 1863, Page 4

POLICE COURT.-Monday.

! [lie-fore Tims. iif:i kll wi, Ks,|.. Tl.M.j I IjAttCKXV. j Albert Canter, seaman on board the 'Helvellyn,' j (previously convicted for two other offences,) was ; again brought up and charged with stealing a meerschaum pipe, lahie IDs., the property of Thomas Ho.vie; , a passenger by the said ship, on or about flic Ist August last. Mr. Mcrrhnau appeared for the complainant, and Mr. Lee for the prisoner, who pleaded not guilty. Thomas Howley, sworn, stated : —I came passenger by the ' Helvellyn.' On or about Ist August f missed i a pipe, which I now produce. The value is l'Js. and lit is the one I lost. 1 afterwards found it on last I Wednesday night in Albert Canter's bed. hidden and i sewn up in the mat trass. The chief oilicer was with | me when it was found. I Cross-examined by Mr. Lee:—lt has been in my I possession for nine months, and I know it bv marks | on it. J Richard Pyeroft deposed Tam chief officer of Ihe I 'Helvellyn.' In consequence of information I received ; I accompanied the last witness to the berth occupied ! bv the prisoner on Wednesday last. the ISth instant. . '1 he cabin had been locked from the time of prisoner's ; leaving the ship, up to the time T went there. I had | .'barge of (he key, and no one could have gained adj mission fo it without my knowing of it. Prisoner : had been confined in the cabin for some time by him- | sell, prior to his removal from (he ship. lie had his ! own clothes and bedding there. I found tile pipe . now produced in the matirass. The pipe was claimed j by the last witness. I also found lour spoons, bc- ' longing to the stores of the ship. j Cross-examined by Mr. Lee :—The cabin was secured by a mortice lock. It was the onlv door with

: a 1 <> c-?c upon it. I do not recollect when prisoner was 1 put in irons. i Thomas Allan stated :—lam a seaman on board the ' ILlvelUm' 1 recollect having a conversation : with prisoner about a pipe, about the beginning of | August, soon after the pipe in question had been | stolen. I saw the pip;", and had it in my band, be- ; iorj 1 heard of it being stolen. That is the same pipe j how produced. I (old prisoner several times that if i he lul not like to give i! tce-k to the owner, I would ; do it for him, and never say where I got it from, j After that I gave it back to the prisoner. I never ; saw ii again after that night. :\lr. irerrunau stated that was the case for the pn s -cut "on. : __ His Worship said that it would have been better tor the pr.Mnier it be ha t pleaded guilt v, for there ; was not the slighest doubt as to his guiit. The prt- . soiut ha i beer, previously convi. t -d on two other , s !-:nv charges. m.a thoti-ht it a pity he could not go a'.»a\ u.th the ship, as he would be no acquis'tion to : the Province of Auckland. The Court had been oe- | eupied for the last two Or three days in hearing ea'-es | against some men of the worst character. Jfc should ; for 1 he first olh nee, destroying ship's stores, ser.lenee ; b in to liard labour in the "common gaol of Auckland ; for I lie term of twelve weeks, for "the second, viz., j the assault, to be lined £5, or in default, two months i hard labour ; mul for the lareeuv, tliree months im-

DRUNKAKDS. John Murray, second offence, fined 10s. and costs, or I S hours' liard labour. William Swftnson, n volunteer, second offence within three days, 20s. and costs, or -IS hours, and Mary Kcams, fifth offence, 20s. and costs, or 48 hours' luu'd labour, and 7 days additional.