CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13835, 23 February 1907, Page 7

CITY POLICE COURT.

Feiday, Fehruakt 22. (Beforo Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M.)

Idlo and Disorderly.—George Piackley was oharged with being an idle and disorderly person, and with having no' lawful visible means'oi support.—At accusod's own request he was remanded till Tuesday next. Breach of By-law.—Sarah A. 11. Pitt pleaded "Not guilty" to leaving a vohiclo unattended in a public place.—She was fined 6s, and coals (7s). Theft.—Michael Lemahan pleaded "'Guilty to having, on January 31, stolen one suit of ololhos, valued at £4 103, and an overcoat, valued a t £G, tho property ofr E. _ Fraser Bodgei.—Chief Detective Herbert said that accused, sinco his remind some days ago, had earned some money, and would pay for tho suit of clothes. —This being his first offence, and accused having work to go to, the Magistrate ordered him to pay oyer 15s in his possession (tho amount for whioli he disposed of the suit) and to oorno up for scntonco when called upon. Breaking and Entering.—Nicholas. Tresaider, William Henry P.aynor, and Henry Ernest Foote wero charged with breaking and entering .the storo known as tho "T" shed on the Victoria wharf, and stealing therefrom two cases of whisky and one of brandy, valued at £7 10s, the property of tho Duncdin Harbour Board.—Chief Detective Herbert

prosecuted. and Mr Hanlon appeared for tho Rccused.—Tho Chief Detective stated that two ' ot the accuscd, liaynor and Tressider, wero employed storing eases of liquor,- which were being discharged from tho s.s. Indraghiri into tho store of J. Mill and Co. on February IG. On tho Saturday evening tho store was closed, and tlio goods stolen wero then in tho store. During tho evening, or beforo Monday morning, tho store was entered by forcing somo boards off a square trap in tho floor, and tho liquor was stolen. Tho theft was discovered on Monday morning. On the Sunday two of tho accused were arrested for drunkenness by Sergeant Emerson. In their possession was a quantity of whisky and brandy, answering the description of the articles which wcro missed from the store next day. After answering the chargo of drunkenness tho accused woro rearrested by Defectives Cariieron aud ' Jl'Lcod on tho present charge. Uieir places were soarched, and further liquor v.'as found oonccalcd there. Next day tho third accuscd was arrested. Tho first two accuscd mado a written statement admitting their guilt. Footo denied the charge, stating that ho was present when tlio oflenco was committed, and advised the others not to take the liquor. A witness would be called to prove that tho acctised Foote gave him five bottlos of whisky to get rid of on his behalf. The whisky was disposed of to some license Jiotelkcepcrs in tho city. Four of tho bottles were rccoverd from two hotelkeepers, who would bo called. Tho oilier hotclkeeper denied having purchased auv liquor from any person.—Jolm Kerr, delivery clerk for John Mill and Co., gave evidence to tho effect that tho whisky and brandy produced corresponded with tlio brands missed from tho store. liaynor and I Tressidet were well known to liirn as being employed 011 tho wharf.—Sergeant Emerson said that when ho arrested Tressider and Raynor for drunkenness on tlio' Sunday the latter had three flasks of;whisky, and. n bolilo of brandy in his possession. On that day liaynor said ho got tho liquor from a man. Koxt day, when sober, lie said he had picked it up. by the overbridge when Tressider was with him. Tressider denied this, and said lie did not knmv where liaynor got it.—Detective Cameron ttated that accused wero arrested by himself and Detective MM.eod on this charge. They searched tho rooms of Tressider and liaynor, and found the liquor produced, soino of the bottles being empty. Raynor was shown the liquor found. He then made a voluntary statement, in which ho admitted that the theft was committed by himself and the otJier man. Tressider corroborated liavnor'a statement in writing. These two accused assisted the police to find the other bottles planted.—James Blue, labourer, said ho met the accused Foote on Saturday, 16th inst.. between 8.30 and 9 o'clock at night in the Hoyal Albert Hotel. He showed witness a bottlo of whisky, and asked him it ho thought the licensee would' take it over the bar. Witness said, " Try him." Footo asked' tlio licensee the value of tho bottle, aud he said 6s Gd. The licenseo took over tho bottle and gave Footo 2s 3d, and witness, .Foote, and M'Cliiitoek (the jicensee) had a drink each. Footo then asked witness to ccmc up to the fountain, aud he would get some more whisky,, which witness was to sell. Having reached there Foote went away for about 10 minutes, and returned with four bottles of whisky. Witness went to the Douglas Hotel and sold two of them to the licenseo for 6s, giving the money to Foote. He disposed of the other two bottles of whisky at Branson's Hotel.—Charles Branson, licenseo of the Branson's Hotel, and James Goddes, licenseo of tho fiouglas Hotel, gave evidenco as to purchasing "two bottles of, whisky each from the witness Blue. —Robert Jaines M'Cliiitoek said that no ono offered to sell him any whisky on the evening of February 16.—A1l the accused pleaded "Guilty," and were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was fixed, each accuscd in i'loo and two sureties of A'so or one of 1100.