MAGISTRATE'S COURT.—Thursday.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 144, 29 April 1864, Page 4

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.— Thursday.

fßefore Thos. Beckham, R. M.J | l.AltreNY. ] Mrs. Palmer was nlaced at the liar charged with stealing from the Wynyard House, Eden Cresent, in the month of February, IR'*3, 1 brooch, value !'J'<, 1 silk dross, value £12, 1 ftntc■!rt, value ~ 3 . 1 hunch charms, value £8, total value £30, the property of one Annie Maria "Dunn. Mr. Brookfield appeared for the prisoner. Annie Maria Dunn, sworn, deposed:—! am the ■wife of Samuel Dunn, living in Auckland. In February, 1863, I was on a -visit at Mr. Havles' in Auckland. T was then a spinster, T>v name, Miss Garner, subsequent to that time T married my present husband. T had resided at the V/ynyard House (Sir. Havles) prior to February, 1803, I had left it about two months before February. When leaving the Wynyard llon«e, T left, a great many things, some in a band box, and some sewed in a piece of calico. They were left in n passage or place where it was usual for people to leave their goods ; the Wynvanl House is a lodcing house. On iny return to Wynyard House in February I found the parcel ripped open, and a drab silk dress wfis gone, also a bracelet, a brooch, and a bunch of charms. On Tuesday last, I snw those articles in possession of the prisoner (Mrs. Palmer,) at W ynvard House. Corporal Scott was present, and searching for them under a search warrant. The dress produced is my property, and is the one taken from mv bundle, its \ alue is £12; the hrooch produced is mine and was taken from a box inside the band box , it?, value is £6 ; the bracelet produced is mine, anil wan taken from the same place, its value is £4 : the seal produced is mine, and was taken off a bunch of charms, its \ alue is 6d. After losing the articles I made enquiry about them, but was unsuccessful, and beard nothing ol them until a few days ago. I informed the Commissioner of Police and Mr. Huyles of my loss immediately afterit occurred. Bengamin Charles Havles, sworn, stated : I am proprietor of the Wvnvard Boarding House, and va> so in 1863 : I know'the prisoner, .(ho was inmate of my house in 1863. I cannot state what time exactly. T think the prosecutrix and the prisoner were residing in my house at the same time. ' I recollect Miss Garner's loss, and speaking to the prisoner on the subject, but made no discovery of the property. I cannot remember what the prisoner said at the time. Cross-examined by Mr. lirookfield: I think the prisoner was in the house on the sth February, but am not positive. Ido not "know the room she occupied, and cannot say if it was the same previously occupied by Miss Garner.

By the Bench : I cannot tell when it was I spoke to the prisoner about the low ; I rcrtuember speaking' to her on the subject, hut cannot say when. Annie Maria Dunn, recalled, stated: When I loft my things in the house, t-ho prisoner was not residing there. When I returned on the sth Febrpary she "was in the house, and X spoke to her about the loss of my clothes, and she said she saw the servant at my band box ; this was all she said to the best of my knowledge. Corporal Scott, sworn, deposed : On Tuesday last, the 26th instant, I exe«uted a search warrant, in an apartment of William Painter's, at Wynyurd House. The prisoner was present in the room during the •whole time, as also the prosecutrix. On entering the room I read the search warrant, and the prisoner said she had nothing of the kind, or any of the articles mentioned in the warrant in the house. She afterwards gave up the silk skirt, which I now produce, also the brooch and bracelet. On searching the apartment I found the body of the dress in a 6,-awer, and it has been identified by the prosecutrix as hers. I found the small seal, which I now produce, in a small box on the dressing table, and it has also been identified bv the prosecutrix as her property. When the goods we're found the prisoner stated she did not know what had tempted her to take tliem. This was the case, and the prisoner having heard the evidence read over, and boing interrogated m Uie

usitnl manner, she, by the ndvico of her counsel, declined to make any statement, lmt reserved her defence. The prisoner wns then committed t 0 tnfre her :1 at the nest sessions of the Supremo Court, for larceny. Bail was then accepted, in two securities of £■! 00 each. n RUN'KAItTW. .Tohn Canning William P.-.irn-, nnrl Mnrpiret Dickenson, were each fined 2<>s. <md the costs, or 48 hours hord labour, and the last named person seven days additional.