MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 270, 15 March 1877, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THIS DAY. [Before Geo. Sumpter, Esq., J.P., and Francis Fulton, Esq., 11. M.] DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. John "Williams was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Thames-street on the night of the 14th. Prisoner pleaded that this was the first offence, and, as he was not known to the police, he was let off with a fine of ss. and costs. STEALING A SWAG. James M'Lachlan, an old man, was charged with having stolen a swag containing wearing apparel, &c., of the value of L2 10s., from the bar of the Star and Garter Hotel, Oamaru, the property of one James Adams. The prisoner pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor, James Adams, appeared in Court in a wretched plight, evidently recovering from a heavy spree, with his head bandaged up, and his coat covered j with blood. On being sworn, he deposed that he was a labouring man, at present staying at Oamaru. He left a swag in the bar of the Star and Garter Hotel. He could not say what day it was he left it there. He was the worse for liquor at the time. He valued the contents at L2 10s. He had not seen the swag since, but identified the one produced as his property. He did not authorise anyone to take it away. By the Bench : Thought it was on Saturday, but could not swear. Missed it next day, and went back to look for it, but found it had been taken away. Was not sober when he left it, but was all right when he went for it next day. Constable Donovan deposed to having seen prisoner coming out of the bar door of the Star and Garter Hotel with a swag. He went down the right-of-way, and witness followed him, as his suspicions were aroused. Stopped him, and asked him what he had got there, and where he got it. He said he had got it from a man whose name he did not know. Witness then arrested him, and made enquiries at the Star and Garter, learning there that the swag belonged to a stranger. By Sergeant O'Neill: Know prisoner. He has been convicted of vagrancy, and served six weeks for it. Since then he had done no work, but had been going about town begging a sixpence wherever he thought he could get it. I

: .■- < ■ " By the Bench : Prisoner was nofr"lrunk when I arrested him. Alfred Gottrell deposed that he was barman at the Star and Garter Hotel. Saw accused in the hotel between ten and eleven o'clock last night. Left him in the bar while attending to some customers. On coming back prisoner was gone. Missed a swag which had been left in the bar by a stranger, and sent the boots after the man. The boots returned, stating that prisoner had been taken into custody. Prisoner made a statement to the effect that Adams had met him. near the Northern Hotel, and asked him to go for the swag, as he did not feel well enough to go in consequence of his head being sore. _ This, however, prosecutor denied, and as prisoner was not going towards the Northern when he was arrested He was sentenced to two months' imprisonment.