POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13490, 17 May 1907, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

SEQUEL TO A STREET

CONVERSATION.

I Three able-bodied men, Samuel Jepson, James O'Connor (a labourer), and John Eyt der (a fireman), were charged before Messrs. J. Gordon and S. D.: Hanna, J.P.'s, at the Police Court yesterday with stealing a watch from the person of John Fredk. Morrison on Wednesday night last. Sub-In-spector Gordon prosecuted and accused were undefended. ... The complainant, a telegraph linesman, said that while he • was walking up Queenstreet on Wednesday night "one of the accused called out:',' Good night, old boy." Jepson'then stopped him and said that one of his mates wanted to fight witness. The other two men then came up, and all of them began talking to him for some time. 1 When they had gone witness found that his watch had been stolen from his vest pocket. He immediately complained to Sergeant Eales, and together they proceeded to the Waitemata Hotel, where they discovered the accused in the bar. Sergeant Eales called accused into the licensee's office and searched them, and while this was proceeding Constable O'Grady, who had accompanied the , sergeant and witness into the hotel, found witness' watch on .the floor: Witness had never been in the hotel office before, and had the watch in his possession about ten minutes before he met accused. To O'Connor : Witness did not feel anybody touch him while he was talking to them in Queen-street. . ? ■.;•••■'' • Sergeant Eales said that he searched the accused in the hotel, to which 'they raised no objection.

Constable O'Grady, who assisted Sergeant ; Eales to search the accused, stated that he found * two watches in Ryder's pocket. Neither of these were' identified by. Morrison as his property, .and, while witness was talking to Morrison he saw Ryder drop a watch on the floor. This was identified by Morrison as his property.:' - - * : The Bench said that there was not suffix cienl evidence to , convict O'Connor and Jepson, and dismissed the .information against them. With regard to Ryder they considered that he had a case to answer. Ryder,* on oath, denied ever having Morrison's watch in his -possessions' and swore that he did not drop it in the hotel. Questioned by Sub-Inspector Gordon accused admitted that he had previously been convicted of theft and assault. He was convicted and sentenced to one* month's imprisonment. . ; - Jepson, O'Connor, and Ryder were then further charged with assaulting and robbing Harry Brown of Is 6d. Sub-Inspec-tor Gordon applied for a remand until Monday next, which was granted. ""