RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5667, 29 May 1879, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

[Wednesday, Mat 28. (Before T-A- Mansford, Esq., K.M.) BREACH OF THE PEACE. S. P. Parker was charged with committing a breach .of the peace in front of the polling booth on Tuesday night.—Prisoner was fined 10s., or in default forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. :;, : i 'RESISTING THE POLICE. James Shearer was charged with resisting ConetableLaurio while in the execution of his duty on,Monday night, and was sentenced to twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. . ILLEGALLY ON PREMISES. Alexander Turnbitt was charged with being illegally on the premises of George Pngsley on Tuesday night.—The offence was not a grave one, and prisoner was discharged. 'VAGRANCY. Rebecca Stewart was sent to gaol for seven days for being a vagrant. . • THE' KATWARRA ARSON CASE. The charge against Mrs. Sarah Phillips was continued. The following additional evidence was adduced :— ! W. - P. Hoojjer, railway guard, deposed that on the night iff the 10th he was in charge of the 11.15’ train from the Hutt. Accused was a passenger by the train. She got out at the Hutt station. She obtained a second class .ticket 'for Wellington. Witness was quite sure as to her identity. Alfred - Boardman, agent for the South British Insurance Company, deposed that in December last a policy was issued for Phillips’

house for £l5O, in the name of the Equitable Building Society. Accused had told witness that she slept at the Hutt on the night of the fire. No formal application had been made for the insurance money. , „ . , B, Bruce Wallace, agent for the National Insurance Company, stated that in May, 1878, Phillips effected an insurance on his furniture for £IOO. The policy was renewed on the Ist May, 1879. , ~ J. H. Otto Schwartz, secretary to the Equitable Building Society, stated that Phillips applied through T. K. Macdonald and Co. for an"advance of £125 on his property at Kaiwarra. The money was advanced. The Hon. Mr. Buckley said the case was only one of suspicion, and contended that there was not sufficient evidence to justify his Worship in committing the prisoner for trial. John Kush, father of the accused, stated that on the night of the fire his daughter (the accused) was at his house at the Taita. She retired to rest a little befoie midnight. Miss Bush, sister of the accused, gave similar evidence.

George Bayfield stated that he had frequently heard Bailey threaten to do tor Phillips. On one occasion he (Bailey) said he would burn Phillips' house over his head. His Worship said he did not think the evidence was sufficient to justify him in committing the accused for trial. The evidence had been of a most conflicting character, and he would give the accused the benefit of the doubt, and discharge her. larceny. William Henderson was charged on remand with stealing a £2O-note, the property of Archibald Bell, captain of the schooner Zior. Archibald Bell, deposed : On Monday, the 19th instant, he was in company with the prisoner in several hotels. They were drinking together and accused asked witness to lend him some money, which he did. He was in the Prince of Wales Hotel with prisoner. Witness had three £2O notes and one £lO note on the Bank of New Zealand when he visited the hotel; While in the hotel witness pulled out the notes to lend accused the money he required. The same evening he miksed a £2O-note. Shortly before he missed the money prisoner left his company. Witness next saw prisoner when he was in custody. Witness did not lend the accused the £2O. He did not know the number of the notes. Witness had known the accused for some little time. Did not remember being refused a drink in the Pier Hotel. He did not give accused any money to pay for some drinks which they had in the Pier Hotel.

At this stage his Worship adjourned the case till the following (this) morning, as the prosecutor appeared to be in a muddled state. His Worship cautioned prosecutor to appear in a different state the next time he gave his evidence or he would be committed fur contempt of Court. STEALING A DOG. Bobert Cutliffe was charged with stealing a bull-terrier dog, the property of Mrs. MolClwaiue. The evidence given was of a conflicting nature, and the accused was discharged.