FUGITIVE OFFENDERS' ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9238, 28 June 1893, Page 3

FUGITIVE OFFENDERS' ACT.

ALLEGED LARCENY AS A BAILEE. At the Tolice Court yesterday, before Mr. R. S. Bush, R.M., John (Jeorge Bay was charged with larceny as a bailee, having carried away one gold watch, valued at £20, the property of Joseph Leek, Sydney. Inspector Hickson conducted the prosecution, and Mr. J. O'Meagher appeared for the accussd. Mr. O'Meagher objected to the case proceeding. The court had decided that ib should bo adjourned until Wednesday, and that arrangomonb should nob be broken through. Owing to the arrival ot an officer from Sydney chat morning, Inspector Hickson desired to have tho case dealt with 60 that the accused could be sent over by tho Wairarapa. Ho (Mr. O'Meagher) was nob prepared to go on with the case, and asked that it might stand over until Wednesday. His Worship overruled Mr. O'Meagher's objection. He said that ib did not follow that bee .use a man was remanded for a certain period, tliab lie could not be brought up before that time. Detective Grace deposed that he arrested the accused on tho 13th June, on the arrival of tho Tarawera from Sydney. He told him that he had received a cablegram from Sydney, stating that a warrant had been issued against him for obtaining a gold watch by fraud. Accused replied that his name was Bay, and he had pawned the watch in Sydney, he asked witness was there not some way of settling the matter. He told him that he thought nob. On being searched he found 19 pawn tickets for watches and various articles of jewellery. One of the tickets was for the missing watch. He also found 68 in silver, a gold toothpick, gold brooch and silver watch, several other articles, and numerous memorandums. In cross-exami-nation by Mr. O'Meagher, witness stated that he had been 20 years in the detective force. He first entered the force in Auckland ; he had also been stationed ab Napier and the Thames. He had never been severely attacked in Court by any of the magistrates. Inspector Hickson interposed. He did not see what these questions had to do with the presonb case. Ho was surprised that any member of the bar should make such base assertions. A lively and lengthy alteration between Inspector Hickson and Mr. O'Meagher ensued. Richard Edward Bennett, Isb class constable, stationed at Sydney, deposed that he arrived in Auckland on Monday evening. He brought over the warrant for the arrest; of the accused. He identified the signature bo the warrant as that of Mr. Isaacs, a justice of the peace. In cross-examination by Mr. O'Meagher witness stated thab he did nob know tho man for whom he had the warrant. He had never seen the watch, and did not know Mr. Leek. Inspector Hickson asked for the prisoner to bo remanded to Sydney. Mr. O'Meagher stated that the accused should not be remanded to Sydney until there was more definite evidence to hand. At present there was no evidence of the existence of Mr. Leek. He would ask to have tho case remanded for a fortnighb until tho watch was forthcoming, Thero nhould be something more than the dictum of the justice of the peace before the accusod was extradited. There should be more evidence to hand before any steps were taken. . In cases of this sorb great care should be exercised. The accused was remanded to Sydney.