LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7796, 16 November 1886, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE.

POLICE COURT.—Monday. [Before Messrs. O. D. Whltcombe, and I. Thompson, J.P.'s.l Shoplifting. — James Staunton pleaded guilty to two charges of larceny of shoes, valued at 10s 6d, the property of William Hoskins and John Carbey, on Nov. 6 and Nov. 1 respectively. Remanded till Tuesday in order that the probation officers might make inquiries into the charaoter of the accused. An order for the payment of 4s (being amount paid by a dealer for the! shoes) was made by the Court. | Truant Apprentices.Thomas Butler and Thomas O'Eane were charged with absenting themselves from the employment of Garrett Bros, on November 10. Mr. Theo. Cooper prosecuted, and stated that the lads had returned to their employment. The oharges were withdrawn. [Before Mr. H. G. Beth Smith, R.1f.,1 and Met sit*. O. D. Whltcoube and T. Thompion, J.P.'*.J , Wife Desertion.—William Henry Bell,' carpenter, was charged with leaving his wife without adequate means of support. Mr. T. Cotter prosecuted. The prosecutrix stated that they had been married three years and Bell had never contributed to her support. He was a carpenter, and in receipt of good wages. The defendant offered to give his wife a home, or pay 15s per week. The Bench made an order accordingly. Stealing prom a Railway Station.— John Dignan, alias the "Waitemata Pirate," and Robert Golding were brought up on the charge of stealing two 1001b bags of flour from the Taupaki railway-station on September 27. Mr. E. Cooper appeared for the accused Golding. Charles William Gilkinson, guard, stated that the two bags of flour were left (as par weighbill produced) at the Taupaki flag-station on the day in question. John Jaokson, farmer, deposed to ordering the floor from Auckland. On Wednesday, September 29, it was gone from the station. Constable Foreman, stationed at Helensville, made inquiries at Dignan's whare and saw a woman named Mary Ann Edwards there. Subsequently, on October 18, visited the whare and found the flour bag produced at the head of Dignan's bed. Dignan was then in gaoL Golding was at the whare, and said he believed Dignan had bought the flour in town. There was 971ba of flour in the bag. Mary Ann Edwards, living at present at Taupaki, deposed that she lived with Dignan about Monday, September 27. Golding was in the next whare, and boarded with them. The latter asked for a bag, and requested Dignan to go to the station with him. She made a • row, and threatened to "clear" if Dignan went. Golding was absent an hour or more, and she gave him a sack. She received two flour bags. They were branded "Woods," and marked "J. Jackson." The bag produced was one of them, and she altered the bags. Scones and bread were made out of the flour. She altered the bag, and sewed it up. Constable Foreman was recalled. Mr. Cooper addressed the Court, contending that there was no evidence, and that the witness Edwards had endeavoured to put the blame upon Golding. The Bench held that there was a case against the acouscd. The accused, Dignan, called Thomas Nixon, storekeeper, to prove that he had always bought bread from him. The beach decided first to hear the other charge against Golding. Second Charge.—Robert Golding was then charged with stealing two blankets and 151bs gum, valued at 17s, at Rumen, on September 29. Mr. E. Cooper appeared for the accused. Henry Johnstone, on the unemployed works at Kumeu, deposed to leaving his whare on the morning of September 29, and on returning found it broken into, and a pair of blankets and some kauri gum missing. He recognised the pair of blankets produced as his property, and valned them along with the gum at 17s In all. Constable Foreman visited the accused's whare, and on making a search, found a bag " planted" in the ground. It contained a pair of blankets, small looking-glass, and a pair of braoes. Mary Ana Edwards gave evidence in regard to the blankets and gum being shown to her by Golding. In crossexamination she said the blankets were buried in two bags, and one of them, along with the potatoes, was stolen from the station. She assisted the police in finding the " plants." Mr. Cooper addressed the Court, submitting that the witness Edwards had shown great animus against the accused. The prisoner (Dignan) volunteered to give evidence in the case, but bis offer was refused. The Bench found that they were perfectly certain that both the accused knew more about it than had oome out, bat as the only evidence was that of the woman Edwards, the case amounted to .only one of grave suspicion. Both charges were therefore dismissed. Sergeant Pratt pointed out that there were other in- | (rotable charges against the accused, resting upon the same evidence, but upon that decision 'the prosecution, hardly pro<jfi»d,-« Tlio were accordingly withdrawn. A oharge against an old man named John Evers, who was alleged to be concerned in the cases, was also withdrawn, and the accused men were discharged. [Before H. G. Seth Smith, Esq, B.U.] Support of a Wife.John Thomas Smith was charged with refusing to support his wife. Mr. W. J. Napier appeared for the prosecution, and by arrangement the case was put back till two o'clock. Mr. E ; T. Dufaur appeared for the defendant. By consent an offer ef 15s per week was accepted by the prosecutrix, and His Worship made an order accordingly. Alleged Larokny of Fowls,— Werner surrendered to his bail upon tho charge of stealing two Brahma fowls, valned at £15, the property of George Towler, on Ootober 30. On account of the defendant not being in attendance through a misunderstanding this case was also put back till two o'clock. Mr. Theo. Cooper appeared for the defendant. From the evidence it seemed that the complainant resided at 148, Greystreet, and was an asphalter. He kept a ?air of Brahmas in his yard on October 30. he birds were in the yard at half-past five on that day, and he missed the pair on the following morning (Sunday). Fowler suspected the aoonsed, as he had shown an anxiety to become possessed of the breed. An information was laid against Werner, and Fowler visited Werner's premises in Symonds-street, where he found the pair of dark brahmas. He valued them at £15, and the pair in Court was his property. He aooompanied Detective Hughes to the house, and finding his fowls, brought the pair away home. The pair were imported by the a.a. lonic,on Maroh 18, and were brought out along with three other hen fowls at a cost of £26. In cross-examination, the witness > stated that his private mark was on the right eyelid of eaoh bird. John Cornwall, builder, identified the birds as being a pair of a batch he brought out in March last by the s.s. lonic. Detective Hughes executed the search warrant produced, and found the fowls at the defendant's house in Symonds-street. His wife was there, and said she had purchased the fowls at the door. Mr. Cooper addressed the Court at considerable length, contending that there was no evidenoe of guilt against the accused, as according to the statement of the complainant he had been thoroughly honest in all his previous dealings with him. His Worship considered that there was not a prima facie case to go before a jury, and therefore dismissed the charge.