RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 366, 21 February 1863, Page 5

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Fkiday, February 20th. (Before A. Chetham Strode, Esq, E. M.) Druhkbnnbs3. —;John White, John Bobertsop, and Andrew Shiels were each fined 20* and costs for being drunk; in default of payment, to be imprifoned 48 hours. Sliiels (who did not appear) was stated to have tried to force his way into the Immigration Dep6t. , A Notorious Woman.—Mary Allen was charged with having no lawful visible means of support. Between eight and nine o'clock on Wednesday evening, she went into the licensed house of Mr Hall, in George-street, and got.a glass of ale; and being told to leave the place as soon as possible, she threw the ■ ale in Mr Hall's face, and the glass at Mrs Hall's head. She then went out and picking up two large stones', she sm shed.them through the window, breaking the frame and narrowly missing the head of a Man seated in tho bar. Getting into Princes-stree% she made a great noise, and sprawling thsnee to the Jetty. she fell into the water and was nearly drowned. On Thursday morning she remained too drunk to be brought before.the Court. The Magistrate i^ou are a most incorrigible woman. You have lived in gaol for the greater part of the last two years. Tlie PriBoner: It's all injustice. The Magistrate : You are about the very worst character in the whole community. It's hard that you should be such a charge upon the public; but when you are out of gaol you contaminate other females. I have given you every chance of earning an honest livelihood ; but your conduct is beyond all endurance. You will go to gaol for three months and there.be kept at hard labor. * Fightiho in tijb Street.—John Brodenok was charged with fighting in Kattray-strest, on Wednesday evening. He urged that he was greatly provoked by the man Farries, who was fined on the previous day; and the -Magistrate, giving him the benefit of the doubt on the point, dismissed him with a caution. Charge op Stbaukq a Gold watch and Chain.—Robert Timmings was charged with having, on Thursday evening, stolen a watch and chain value f.14, the property of James G. Mack'ay, of the Craigieburn Hotel, Walker-street. Mr M'Gregor appeared for the pi isoner. Mary Mackay, wife of the prosecutor, stated that on the previous afternoon, a little before live, she left on al table in the bar pnrlour, her gold watch and chain. In an adjoining loom, bstween which and the bar parlor there was a door, the pi isoner was seated at the time. She was absent about ten minutes, and immediately on returning she missed the watch and chain. She told this to the prisoner, who made a great disturbance, and wanted to strip off everything, to convince her that he had not the watch. She told him to do what he pleased. About an hour afterwards, she watched the prisoner out of the house, and followed him to the closet in the back yard. She j-Uflitdopen the door aud found him on his knees, f ill one arm between some of the boarding of the floor. She asked what he was about; and lie replied, " Only looking for a piece of paper." She caught him by the collar of the coat and told him he should not leave the place until she got assistance. Several persons came when she called. One of them was named Cameron; and on her pointing out where she had seen the prisoner's arm, Cameron stooped, felt about there, and soon found the missiug watch and chain; By Mr M'Gregor: Before the prisoner offered to besearched or to strip, ber husband had charged him with the robbery, lie taid that he was reaiy to he searched and to help to search others. The water closet was in the back yard, and was open to all iv the house. • . , I The Prosecutor stated that the prisoner and another man were in the room adjoining the bar parlor, when he and his wife left that place to get tea. On the watch being missed, he said to the prisoner. " You must have taken it," for he thought it had been done by the pri oner in a lark. Tl>e.P"soner denied all knowledge of the watch, He (the prosecutor) went to a watchmaker who had recently repaired the Watch, and g ; t the number. Then he fetched two detectives1,- and by the consent of all parties in the house there was a general search by the officers. The prisoner was not there at the time. JPreviously, when the prisoner offered to be searched, the Brut thing pulled put of his pocket was a tilk handkerchief which belonged to him (the prosecutor). By Mr M'Gregor: He would swear to the handkerchief j had not the prisoner on the previous evening admitted' that if belonged.to him (the prosreutor) he could not have claimed it. The prisoner stripped off everything but his drawers and shirt; but nothing like the watch* was seen. Police-conßtable William "Wright said that the prisoner was given into his charge for stealing the watch and chain, and having the silk handkerchief in his possession. He denied all knowledge of the watch, and said that he found the handkerchief in the yard.Mr Simcock asked for a remand for a week, to allow of the attendance of Cameron, who was employed on board a steamer, and could not absent himself without a subprena. Mr M:Qrcgor "opposed any remand, on the ground that theve wns really no pritna facie case. The Magistrate said that he differed entirely. As tbe'evidence stood, he thought that there was a very strong case—that there was ample ground for the remands ■■ ■ Mr M'Gregor hoped that bail would be accepted. The prisoner was a very respectable man. The .Magistrate would Consider it daring the day; and he subsequently said that he would accept the prisbner's own rt cognisances in LSO, and two sureties in L 25 eachj notice to be given. ■■■ • A Nice. ChabActer.—lncited by the numerous examples of late, in 'New South Wales, one of our fcusb genny has tried his hand at a mail robbery. Harry Pickett, driver of the mail batween Condamain'e and Dalley, took it into his head the other day to drive his charge into a secluded spot on the road, rifle the -mail bags; and take from them all the moneys ml notes,-'leaving the cheques aud orders spread about'here and there in dira confusion. This Pickett is described as man especially adapted to " going on the Spree" (as the phrase goe3) at pnblic-houses, and it was confidently "predicttd that he would soon be caught.' - His capture, however, has not yet been effected, although the Government have offered a reward for his apprehension. He is said to be of good family, a'nd-in-regular receipt of Ll5O per annum irom home.'" Finally the local chroniclers wata that he has been' "connected with tho press," and contributed several articles to the Sydney journal *, under some 'MnAe'di'plume which I forget. He has a wife and child itiHNew South Wales, in which colony there is a warrant out against him for forgery. Altogetlwr he is a remarkably-bright character. —Queensland Correspondent of the .Ar^aft .< , : ......