PORT CHALMERS POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12604, 6 March 1903, Page 7

PORT CHALMERS POLICE COURT.

Thursday, March 5. (Before Messrs J. Thomson, Mayor, and A. Thomson, J.P's.) Drunkenness.—Three first offenders, who pleaded " Guilty," were convicted and discharged. Theft.—Jame3 Penton was charged, on iho information of Neill M'Pherson, with stealing the sum of 16s from him on iho 4th inst.— : Accuscd pleaded " Not guilty." — Sergeant . Gcerin stated that complainant had been in ] the bar at Chick's Hotel on "Wednesday fore- : noon with some friends, and after a drink or ' two wont into another room and sat down. The accused followed complainant into the parlour and sat down on the sofa, and while there put his bands into M'Pherson's pockets | aud stole the money.—Neill M'Pherson, the ! complainant, gave evidence that he was in | Chick's Hotel on Wednesday, the 3rd inst., where be saw accused. After shouting for him I twice witness left tho bai, and went into the | back parlou. and lay down on the sofa. Shortly j afterwards the accused came into the room and j lay down on tho sofa, alongside of witness. [ Ho caught the accused's hand in his pocket, J and then missed about 15s. "Witness asked accused to return him tho money, but he only laughed, and said he would shout, When tho drinks came into the room witness said to the barman, "Do not take tho money from him, as it is what he has robbed me of." He reported the matter to Constable Bosworlh. In answer to tho accuscd, witness said he had been fighting with a ma.n on that morning, but wp. sober when he went into the room.— Frederick Johnson, barmai> at Chick's Hotel, said (ho accused was in the hotel on the 3rd inst. about 11.30 a.m. Witness supplied him with a drink, but he liod no money to pay for it. He saw tilt accused go into the room where M'Pherson was, nnd when witness went into the room accused had his right arm round M'Pherson's neck, both being on the sofa. Ho went to put the two men out. That was about a quarter to 1. Accused asked him to bring in drinks, pulling out of his pocket a handful of silver. He paid witness Is Cd, M'Pherson at the time saying, "You have got my money." —Constable Bosworth also gave evidence.—The Bench considered the evidence was not sufficiently "trcag, and dismissed tho charge.