MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1163, 15 June 1894, Page 29

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

A man named William Herdman, who had been arrested in the morning by Constablo Cruickshank at Lowry Bay, was taken beforo Mr Martin, S.M., on Tuesday afternoon, charged with stealing some fowls, the property of Mr J. B. Harcourt, of Wellington. Ho pleaded not guilty. It appears that some days ago Mr Harcourt missed seven fowls from his promises in Hobson street, and they were subsequently found by Constable Cruickshank in a small enclosuro near a cave in which accused lives at Lowry Bay. Herdman said the birds wero brought there by a man named Harris, who put them where they were found, on accused saying lie did not want to get into trouble over them. Harris was convicted of larceny and sent to prison, and he (accused), finding that the fowls wero still in the same place and in poor condition, took care of them. His Worship altered the charge to one of receiving the fowls knowing them to have been stolen, and convicted Herdman of that offence. As, however, ho appeared to have been leading an honest life since his last appearance at the Court, ho said ho would not send him to prison, but would order him to como up for sentence when called upon. He warned him, however, that any further lapse on his part would be followed by a severe sentence. The licensee of Saunders' Hotel, Jolmsonville (William H. Saunders) was charged at tho Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, before Mr Martin, S.M., anl Mr F. H. Pickering, J.P., with having refused to supply a meal to two travellers on April 3rd last. Mr Wilford appeared for tho defendant, who ploaded not guilty. Thomas William Giese, a plumber, stated that on the day in question he was working with a man named Alfred Thomas at Johnsonville, and about midday they went to tho defendant's hotel. He himself had a glass of beer, and Thomas asked for a cup of tea, which Mrs Saunders refused to make. They asked her if sho did not keep a table, and sho said sho had nothing cooked. Thomas therefore had a bottle of ginger alo. After knocking off work in tho evening they went again to tho hotel and told Mrs Saunders they wanted somo tea, but she refused and again said she did not keep a table. Afterwards she put two water biscuits on the table.

Similar ovidenco was given by Alfred Thomas. Mr Wilford said his clients had no recollection of tho occurrence, and ho also raised the point that no offence had been committed as no legal tender of money had been made by tho men. His Worship said ho would take time to consider his decision on the point of law.