LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5582, 6 October 1879, Page 6

LAW AND POLICE.

POLICE COUKT.—Satcrday. tßafore K. C. BaMtow, Esq.. R.M.] Drunkenness. — Two persons were 6ned for this offence. Obscksb Language.—Edward Grainger was charged with being drunk, also with using obscene language in a put •- plact to wit, Queen-street. Prhoner said he was drunk. Mr. Pardy proved the offence. For the first offence he mas fined 5s and costs, and for the second he was fined £5 and costs, or a month's imprisonment with hard labour. Assaulting the Police. —Frank Smith wa3 charged with being drunk and dhordeily; also, with assaulting Constable Jgoe by kicking him on tho leg and attempting to throw him down whilst ia the execution of his duty. Prisoner said he was very sorry, but he was drunk at the time. Constable Igoo Btated tho facts of the case. For the offenct of drunkenness prisoner was sentenced to 7 days' imprisonment, it being his third off-.nce ; for assaulting the constable ho was fined £3, or (in default) one month's imprisonment with hard labour.

Stealing Money.—Daniel Egan was charged with stealing £10, the property of Nicholas Cisey, of tho Wade. On the application of Mr. Pardy this case was remanded for a week.

Tub Robbery of Securities.—William Denham, on remand, was charged with stealing, from the peraon of Matthew Singleton, money and documents over the value of £10. Mr. Fardy stated the facts of the case, which have already been publishod. Matthew Singleton deposed tbat he arrived in Auckland abiut a month ago. On Tuesday, the 30th September, he went to the Bank of New Zealaud to transact some business between one and two o'elcck. As he was going home a heavy shower came on. He went into the Globe Hotel for shelter. He saw the prisoner in the bar. Prisoner said he was sorry the weather was so bad as he had to go to tho Bay of Islands to do some surveying. They had a long conversation together. Witness askr.d prisoner to have a driuk. Ho did bo. Witness took his pocketbook from his breastpocket, and took out a £l-note. Prisoner was present. After having tho driuk they retired into one of the rooms aod had some more driuks together. Witness paid for all of them. PrUouer took out a sixpence, and said, "I would treat you, but thia is all the money I have." After remaining about threequartera of an hour, witness went home. Ho left prisoner at the door. When he at rived homo his wife made a remark to him. He felt his pocket and mi9sed his book. Ke at once returned to the hotel. The prisoner was atill there. Ho told him he had lost his purse. Prisoner said he was very sorry. Witness asked tho barmaid, but she kuew nothing about. Ho then said he would go to the police staiion at once. Prisoner eaid he wiuld go and shew him the way. They both went to the police station. Prisoner did not go further than the door, aud witness saw no more of him. lie took out his pocketbook nt tho hotel to give prisoner a piece of paper to write bis namo on and to pay for drinks. When he ttok it out he put it on the table. He did not remember putting it in hie pocket again. It was when he got home tbat he missed it. There was in the book four £L-uotes on the Auckland Bank of .New Zealand, tsvo bank slips and 75 £50 shares in the Midland and Great Western railways. From the time he went into the Globe Hotel nntil the tiuw he missed bis book ha was in no one's company but the prisoner's. 'Hie pockelbook (produced) was the one. Ona of the notes had the name aad address of a storekeeper on the back of it. He noticed it when ho got it from the bank. Since his loss he was in the Occidental Hotel. Ho told the iaudkvly about bis loss. She told him that prisouer had been th.-re aud changed a £1 - note. Sho shewed him the note. He recognised it as the one he got from the bank. The name was on the back. He identified the note (produced) as the same one. He never saw the prisoner before. To his Worship : He gave no money to the priaouer. Ellen Cox deposed that she was servant at the Globs Hotel. She remembered Tuesday last, the 30th of September. Prisoner was in the house on that day. She remembered seeing Mr. Singleton come in. She did not know at what time. It was soon after dinner. Mr. Siugleton and prisoner pot iuto conservation together. Thi-y were iirst in the bar, and then in a private room. They had several drinks. Mr. Singleton paid for them. When prisoner came to the hotel he had only Is. He had a drink oat of that. She gave him Gd change. After Mr. Singletoa had paid for several drinks prisouer took out the Cd and said that was all the money he had. They did not remain in the room long after that. She Cuuld not say how loue. Mr Siugieton went away by himself. When he was gone prisoner went into the hick yard. He did not remain long in the b»ck. He cams back into the house, and asked her to have a drink with hm.. She decline:l. Ho theu asked her for his bill. liis bill cainc to 9j, for board aud lodging. She did not get the account because her mistres3 was out. Mr Singleton then returned. He said, •' I have lost my pocketbook." She said, "I know nothing about it." Air Singleton and prisoner tueu left for the police station. While they were in the private room sho saw Mr Singleton with a pocketbook. He took it out to pay her. No one else was in the room. She rememb.red Detective Breunan going to search for the hook. She went out to the back with him where eho had Eeen the prisoner go. She saw him find the book iu the closet. It was a similar one to the one she saw in Mr. Singleton's possession. She identified the .ne produced as the same. Johanna O'Sullivan deposed that she was the wife of Manrice O'Sullivau, landlord of the Occidental Hotel. She knew the prisouer. He came to her hotel on Tuesday last about half-past three in the afternoon. He had a drink, and paid 3s Gil he owed. He tendered a £l-noto in payment. She had since given the note to Mr. t-ingleton. She knew the note by som« writing on the back. She identified the one produced as the same. Thomas McEwen, proprietor of the Buffet Dining-rooms, deposed that ho remembered the prisoner coming to his place for tea on Tuesday last. He paid for his tea and paid os 6d which wss owing. He paid him with a £l-note. This was the only note he took that evening and the only one he had iu his pocket. When he saw the account of tho robbery in the Herald the next morning he kept the note separate from others. He subsequently gave the note up to Detective Brenuan. Detective Breunan deposed that, through a complaint by Mr. Singleton of being robbed he went in search of prisoner. Before doing so he went to tho Globe Hotel and searched the house aud tho yard. Ho found tho pocketbook in the closet. The servant was present when he found it. He then continued his search for the prisoner, and found him about S o'clock in the Auckland Hotel. He wa? in the act of paying Mr. Hamley 10s. He charged him with the offence and toc*< him over to the lock-np. Prisoner said he knew nothing about Mr. Singleton. He was in his company, and that was all. He searched prisoner, and found two £1 notes on tho Bank of New Zealand and 5a Gd in silver. He had not been able to find any of the documents which were in the book. This being the case for the proeecntion the evidence was read over to the prisoner, who was duly committed to take his trial at the first suasions of the Supreme Court.