MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 200, 11 December 1876, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DAY. [Before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M.] DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. Henry Steel was charged with this offence in Trent-street on Sunday morning. Prisoner admitted his guilt, and was fined ten shillings, or twenty-four hours' imprisonment. STEALING BANK NOTES. George Cohen was charged with having on the 9th instant at Oaiuaru, stolen from the person of John Collins the sum of £5 in bank notes. Mr. Balmer appeared for prisoner. John Collins deposed : I am employed at Mr. Galbraith's saw mills. I was in Richmond's Hotel on Saturday night. I went round the passage at the ■ side and into one of the rooms at the back of the bar. Mr. Richmond and his.cook were in the room when I entered. Tiie landlord cashed a cheque for me of the amount of £6 18s. Just as I was receiving the money prisoner (George Cohen) came into the room. The money I received was five single notes, a half sovereign, and six shillings in silver all. Mr. Richmond said he would give me the other pound in a short time, and the remaining two shillings went for drinks for Mr. and Mrs. Richmond, prisoner, and myself. I put the five pounds in my left-hand waistcoat pocket, and the half-sovereign and silver in my left trousers pocket. Prisoner was standing close by, and in a position to see where'l put the money. After a little while prisoner, the landlord, and I went in at "Yankee grab" for drinks. I lost, and paid. After some time prisoner suggested that I should . have my revenge. We threw again, and I lost again, and I drank beer and champagne. Prisoner then said, "We will have a shilling in, and the winner shouts." Mr. Richmond then said, "I have only one bottle of champagne, and we might as well throw for that." We did so, and I was the loser again. I did not pay for it, but Mr. Richmond said to his wife, " Give him ten shillings back out of the pound I owe him, and that will make us square; 0 ' Up to that time I had not spent any of the five pounds. Several persons camej into the room and were jostling one another, and I went towards the door to get out, and as I passed prisoner he put his hand into my waistcoat pocket and took out the money. I caught hold of his hand and took the money out of it, saying " JS'one of that; don't try those tricks on with . me." As I was taking the money from him I was pushed more into the centre of the room, but I put the notes back into the same pocket and again tried to leave the room when a scuffle took place outside the door between Mr. Richmond and --■ some men. I a3ong with others tried to se&v what was the matter, when the prisoner .1 put his hand into my pocket a second tkse, ".-jj secured tae money, and bolted towards | tne back through the passage. I am not j ble to say exactly what tune it was. I J was perfectly sober when I first went to I

the hotel, f had. three glasses of beer, I mid one of champagne, up to the time-pri- | loner took the money. After taking the | drink. £ stilt hail all my senses about kit, i mtil kmiw perfectly well what I was ♦tuin.if. ' I ant positive prisoner L-t the imm wb> took my ttiii'.ii'), I never saw pranntT until Saturday night, and r,ave him no; nunnission to take the money. Cross-examined by Mr. EJattu- r : I hr.ct ! untiling to drinl: on Saturday nntil going In Richmond'!;!. Ido not think Mr. Kidipiotid could have a/oidtd anting where E pit the nun<y, as his face wm towards )io, and lie was unite done; Tiie eha'ui;i'.;no was shared between Mr. Richmond, ha. Richmond, prisoner, and myself. IV hen I lost the money t le first time, I lid not inform anyone particularly, but hose in the room must have heard me cry nit. £ took the money from him, and I liotight that was sufficient, as I did not hitik he would try it on When the iinuey was taken a s;cond time, I did not all anyone for assistance, as th re were- a lumber of persons present. E did not remrfc my loss* to the police until the followy morning, E have not seen any of the limey since. £ went to Richmond's at x o'clock on Sunday morning about the )bber", but could neither see prisoner w Mr. Evict, ra md. John Richmond, on oath, stated :. I in thj licensee of the Queen's Elotef, | 'liames-street. I know the last witness, ulin Collins, by sight. E saw him on itturday at half-past six at my hotet. I D.tt saw him at half-past eleven, in the ussage at the back of the bar. Mrs. Ikvmond and myself were in the bar, lien tVdlins asked me to cash a cheque, refused at Meat, but eventually did ao, ring him Jb'G- in notes, a half-sovereign, lil sis shillings in silver, owing him £l. Iho cheipio was for ,£*> 18s. After I itidud Collins the money, prisoner came to the passage. Collins appeared to put ; u money into his trousers pocket, but J liuot say what amount. I did not see in put any into- his waistcoat, though he ly have done s<>. Collins shouted four inks, for myself, himself, prisoner, an E ittcrsoti the barbj •. Collins next iii.l riged me to shout, as he said was my turn, which I did. A ittle of chami ague was next produced, nl was t .ai taken of by the four before menmod. I believj my wife tasted it also. |t«r the li,hts wevo put down, tive ikers, ttnlif ttie influence of drink, I hud in ti.rough the bt;ck. I had preimsly told Collins he would have to clear it, as it win twelve o'c.ock. A Uttlj hile after Collins ajp ar„d to get very isy, and h<>»d of on; of the kins ai d truU to-get lum to tig tt. There is a bit of a row ;md Cot t.w wei.t ©atId witti the When pros c.ttor sud to have the c ie<p:e cashed he apvod pretty si bjr ; but alt .ough sensible tlie time of the row he inns, have been I boozy. H tijn Colt n-i wjnt out into " passage prisoner was Ins.. i.,« 1 me. J . « ween liini and proseut o v I'risjtier . '«i a st angor to m , out has been iniug at my place f. r a f >w days. Juws-examintd by Mr. iJalmer : When Hint* called at halt-past s.X, he had nothing to drink, but I could not say At.. I did not see Collins take hold of souer'a band, take money out of it, and ', " Don't try tricks on with tut*." Had mild and done so, E would have given soucr in c.arge. Ills-examined : I cotitd not attempt to hip that prisoner did not pit his hand u prosecutor's pocket, and take the utuy. Jf prosecutor swore he put the la into las waistcoat pocket, it would Ibe true. Mm Moggie deposed : t know pvoaueu- ', Collins, and remember seeing hint on lurday uigat at-oat twenty minutes past ,nad he whs then perfeer.ly sober. itoss-examined fey Mr. Ualuiur : I did see Cob ins drink an} thing during the mug. came home at tive o'clock In his work, and c.itl not leave the i>o until ton minutes past tjn. in. hariah Duniop k'acier.ioiv deposed : m a haii-Ui tesu i.ig at Oauuutt. now the Queen's itottl, »n I was there Suturday r.ight about i alf-paat eleven, ivmainud t.iere uifil after twelve. I i praitief an I Cblli.is therj.. E saw wa or patting some notes into his stioat pocket. Ihere was snaking for ita, a bob in and the winner to sliout : I dropped out after I had once loat. 'Sfuator tost three times, and on my li t don't; think it was correct altUougU paid: for it. You know E must speak t nth,, as E mil on oath. Collins apul a In.tie jotiy, you know. When champagne waa tost, prisoner, in my lion,, was the loser, ItlS nevertheless irosecuti r was made t > pay for it. i'oss-e.xar';ined by Mr. EJuJmer: Attyjh I dropped out after tositvg the ling E did not drop out of the- drinks. iy memory is correct E could not say Bit pocket he put it in ; but I believe But it tii lib vost pockjt. E forgot to m that Collins won once out of foitr |9 the dice werj th .own.

tu:li;i,'l' i>onovav deposit: I am a fo-jimskabt n st;itio ioit at Oarnaru. I'ustucil'ay m >min» between nine and "'uloek,. from information I received ipv(.)doo>tbi>vv I arrested priionur. He m liia bedroom at the a Hotel '»time. J brought hint to the toek»iul on hiiu I fonud a silver haad gold «!t.vi;i> bat n >■ money, mt concluded tn>> evidence for the cation. If. Buhner svtbraiSted there was no We whatever to srtbjdanti tte the f p r and pointed out the inconsistency I'fusuuutors statement that he had tl for assistance whjn Mr. Richmond, ho says wad in the room, failed to I bin. He submittal that it was Ijisible that the money waa lost in t'e with the bakers. i>lagistrate was of opinion that a b:;i« case had been made oat, and .ted the prisoner for trial.