RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1096, 23 October 1879, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THIS DAY. (Botore T. \Y. Parker, Ksq., R..M.) Charles Clifford was charged under th c Vagrant Act that between the 10th am] 27 th of Septtember, 187'->, ho was the occupier of a certain house in Thainej street, which was then frequented | )v reputed thieves, namely, Alfred H<»skin» and Walter IJlmer. Inspector Thompson prosecuted, and Mr. Newton defended. The evidence went, to show that, r,,, certain days, between the 10th and 27t} l September, the men named in the iuf,, r . illation were seen in defendant's h.nise and a conviction for larceny was prnv,.; against rimer, a similar charge also proved against. Albert llnskins. ~ Mr. Newton contended that the inf,, r . mation was bad for uncertainty as t 0 time. The dates on which the personnamed in the information were in t ] lt , house of defendant should have /leen stated, otherwise it should .leen proved that they were in the hi ..M from the 10th to the '27 th, which had not boon done. That it was not shown that they frequented the house, but merely that they had on four or live days paid shon visits. That to support the information it must be shown that more than one reputed thief frequented the house, and the conviction put in related to Albert and not Alfred, Hosldns. That one single conviction was not sufficient to prove anyone a reputed tlief ; and that if the men were both reputed thieves, it was not proved that the defendant had any knowledge of tlieir character. Notice should have been given to him by thj police of their supposed reputation. His Worship intimated that as th-o conviction put in was not of Alfred, hu; of Albert Hoskins, lie imagined the infyr. mation could not be sustained, but h s would take time to consider his decision. The following persons were fined for allowing cattle to wander at largo James Rcid, one cow, os ; Henry Wilson, one heifer, 3s; Arthur Denton, ok heifer, :5s ; and G. W. Matthews, oi K horse, 3s,