MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4824, 29 November 1902, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23. (Before Dr A. McArthur, S.M.) Two first offenders, charged with drunkenness, were convicted. John Kennedy denied having, nilfully broken a plate-glass window, rained at £2, at the Empire Hotel, on the 27th inst. Two witnesses stated that the accused was in tho bar of tho hotel with another man. In an argument botween the two, the accused iiit out at Ids companion with a sling-shot, which was attached to Ids wrist. Tho shot missed tho man and wont through the window. A fine of £5, in default ono month’s imprisonment, was imposed. Maria Connahau, charged with being an idle and a disorderly person, was remanded for a week, in order to allow tho police an opportunity of making further inquiries about her. Ernest E. Burn was charged witK haring stolen « cornet* valued at ,-Ctj. tho property of Augustus Adams. Mr Luckie appeared for tho accused. The accused was remanded to tho Supremo Court for sentence. Bail was granted. Tho hearing of the charge against Richard Martin, alleged to have sold beer without a license to E. J. Jones, i-t Muritai, on the 12th just., was adjourned until next Tuesday at 2.30. on account -Of tho defendant’s counsel being engaged iiu tho Supreme Court. Henry McLaughlin, a middle-aged man, appeared on remand to answer a charge of alleged theft of 9s 6d, tho money of Mary Jane Oliver, by “ringing tho changes” at Wellington on the loth inst. His Worship dismissed tho case. Mr JeUicoo appearedfor the defendant. Louisa Galvani made application for sureties of tho peace agairist Annie Blake. ■ His Worship bound the defendant' over in her own recognisance of £25 to keep tho peace for one month. Margaret Lcnham, a prohibited,, person, was fined 40s, in default fourteen days’ imprisonment, for having been found in licensed premises during the , currency of such prohibition. ROBBERIES -AND ASSAULT. A young man named John Shanaghaa was charged with having stolen n watch and chain and £lO in money, tho property of John Welch, at tho Hntt, on the 21st inst. Tno informant, on tho 21st inst., went to the Hutt races and took £l4 with .him. He won sovo-x-al pounds, and during tho day had ono or two drinks. By the time tho last race was over witness found, himself almost dazed. . He then went into a urinal, and whilst there tho accused came in and went through his (witness’s) pockets. Witness at first thought tho accused was a friend who wanted to look after his money, but when he ran out of tho place,- witness realised that ho had been robbed. Witness called out to a number of small boys to stop the accused. They stopped him for a while, but-'when- witness got up to them - the accused was away. A hoy named Tom Edlinsaicl lie saw tho accused como out of one side of tho urinal and tho informant out of ’the other. Tho accused ran towards witness. Tho informant called out to witness and several other boys, “Stop that man. ho lias stolon my watch and chain.” Witness ran after him. ' The accused was committed .to the Supremo Corfirt for trial.

Shanaghan was further charged with having assaulted and robbed ' Joseph Scott of £3B, at Petone, on the 21st inst. Xlie .informant deposed that ho took £l9 with him to the Hurt-races on 21st inst. Ho won on nearly every race, and had £4O in his possession when ho left for home. After tho races, ho walked along tho railway line to Petone, in order to catch a train. After ho had crossed tho second'bridge, threo mpn caught up to him. The accused struck him, and kriocked him over, and his companions grappled him hy tho ihropt * and kicked him. Witness resisted violently, and called out “ Help 1” They then -held his throat, and nearly choked him. Witness was rendered unconscious, and when ho came round again, tho night was dark, an'd he discovered that ho had been rohbod of all his money. Next’morning ho reported the affair to. tho detectives. Cross-Examined, wit- ‘ ness slated die was not drunk, but was r. little tho worse of liquor.' Douglas Pnwcll stated that on the evening of the 21sfc inst. ho saw a man, whom ho now know to bo Scott, walking along the , line. Ho saw tho accused and two men walking in front- of him'. One of. tho men waited for "Scott, and . ho (Scott) tried to get away. The accused hit him on tho face, aud knocked him. down. The other men thou hold him down while tho accused put’ his hand , into his pockets, and turned out. Ho, appeared to take something out of tho trousers pockets. Witness recognised tho accused as the man who assaulted Scott. Four boys, named George Simmons. Leonard Coachman, Tom Edlin and William Cunningham, gave corroborative evidence. Tho accused was committed to tho Supremo Court for trial.