POLICE COURT—Monday.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4203, 4 May 1875, Page 3

POLICE COURT—Monday.

rPcforo Thomas lleckhsm, Esq., R.M.] Dkuxkknxess.—Seven persons were punished for first offences of drunkenness. Vagrancy.—George Dysert, for a breach of the VagraSit Act, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. — Agnes Couloi), for vagrancy, was sentenced to four mouths' imprisonment with hard labour. Malicious Injury to Property Act.— Walter Pell was charged with wilfully breaking a window and a door, the property of Susan Connolly. Mr. Uees defended tho accused. Susan Connolly deposed that afc 10 o'clock on Sunday night she saw tho defendant break tho door and window of her house. The damage was estimated at £1 11s 9d. To Mr. Uees: I did not see the defendant in the Royal Hotel on Sunday afternoon, and never invited him to come and see me. I did not sec the defendant at Phillip's Hotel and ask him when ho was coming to see me. I never saw him before. Mrs. Hasscll, daughter of last witness, and her sister (Mary Connolly) gave corroborative evidence. Constable Hartley gave evidence of the prisoner's arrest. William Mahoney, who was called by the defence, stated that on Sunday evening Mrs. Connolly paw the defendant in his company in the Clarence Hotel, and drank with him. At this stage the case was adjourned until Tuesday. The accused was admitted to bail upon his own bond of £10. Laiicenv.—Daniel Donogliue was charged with stealing four shirts, 2 pairs of trousers, and two pillow-cafes, from the Provincial Hospital, tho property of the Provincial Government. On the application of Inspector Broham, the prisoner was remanded until Wednesday next. In the meantime, further : enquiries will be made concerning the case by the police.—Alex. Campbell alia* Douglas, and Martha Nicholson (a ehild about eight years of age) were charged with stealing, on the 27th ultimo, property and money to tho value of l'S, the property of Owen Martin. Mr. Laishlcy appeared for the girl Nicholson. The informant Raid that he was lodging in the Old House at Home. On the 27th inst., he went to Nicholson's boarding house and had dinner there. At dinner he had ono or two glasses of beer, and afterwards felt so unwell that he went and lay down. There must, he said, have been something in tho beer, for lie was still affected by it. When he lay down ho had iu his possession one five pound note, two one-pound notes, one sovereign, and somo silver. The notes were in his waistcoat pocket, ■ which was pinned to prevent them foiling "lit. Witness was also wearing a gild Ecnrf-pin .it the tiino. After dozing same time, he w.i.i awakmed by the little civ) taking F.onic silver out of his pocket. He took the moury out of her hands, boxed her ears, and pushed her away. He searched liiti pockets, and fomiil his money was all tone with J.he exception of the few shillings he had taken out <>i the child's hand. Tho B'arf-pin was also missing. He saw the malo prisoner, and asked him to go for tho police, hut he refused to do bo. Witness went for the police, and afterwards pointed out to tho detcctivo tho room he had ecen the male prisoner In. The noto produced resembled these which had been etoWn from tho witness, and the scarf-pin he identified as hia property. Detective Grace deposed: la

consequence of information received, I went to Nicholson's boarding-houae at 3.45 on the 27th ultimo. I saw both prisoners there, and asked the male prisoner if he knew anything about prosecutor's money. He said he did not. I then asked if he was in the houso when prosecntor went to lie down. He eaid he was, and that he remained about the house until prosecutor lost his money. I told the fcmalo prisoner to put on her hat; she would have to come to the station. Prisoner Campbell then asked me to search the closet, as ho had seen the prosecutor out there, and eaid tliat he would sooner see tho money foend than the girl sent to gaol. I accompanied the prisoner Campbell, who pretended to search for the money, but in lifting a piece of wood he dragged from the sleeve of his coat the one five-pound note and the one-pound note produced. I then apprehended him on the present charge. In a room in whiuh the prisoner had been lying, I, in company with Detective Jeffrey, found between the studs and the lining the onepound note produced. I brought the prisoner's together, and the little girl said she would tell the truth now. She said that about half an-hour after the prosecutor went upstairs to lie down, the prisoner Campbell walked up to the top of the stairs and took off his boots, and that be was then out of her sight for about fifteen minutes, and returned and put his boots on at the back-door. Before Gampbell went upstairs, he tuld me that prosecutor bad plenty of money in his waistcoat pocket, and that by opening his vest it could, be easily taken. This statement was made in prisoner's presence. Detective Jeffrey gave similar evidence, and also that the girl had stated, that at dinner they noticed that prosecutor kept his money in his waistcoat pocket, and that Campbell then proposed to rob him. Prosecutor sent for some beer, and Campbell chewed some tobacco, and put the juice in the beer. It was after this had been drunk by the prosecutor that he went and lay down. Between 5 and G o'clock the witness was in the police-office, and heard someone rnn out of the guard-room. Ho followed, and seeing that it was the prisoner, ran after him, and caught him in Highstreet. He asked him why he had done this, and received the reply that, surely he would not blame him (prisoner) for trying to gain his liberty. Some time after this prisoner sent a message that he wished to see witness. lie then said to him that he could see how it was—-mischievous people wanted to put it on to him, and that it was the female prisoner, who had robbed the informant. Tho male prisoner had, previous to his arrest, reported the robbery to tho police, but did not make Jthis statement when he reported it. The prosecutor, on being re-called, stated that he obtained the gold pin from the female prisoner. The evidence for the prosecution being concluded, both prisoners pleaded guilty to the charge, and the Bench was thus enabled to deal with them summarily. The prisoner Campbell was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour, and tho girl Nicholson to a term of three months' imprisonment.