PORT CHALMERS. (Before T. A. Mansford, Esq., R.M.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1230, 17 July 1875, Page 10

PORT CHALMERS. (Before T. A. Mansford, Esq., R.M.)

Wki.i.-Kxowx to the Piimck. -John Gillison, described as a character well-known to the Police, was charged with drunk and disorderly conduct on Saturday night last. Prisoner pleaded Guilty. His Worship observed that the prisoner would appear once too often before the Court. As he had been locked up since Saturd -.y night the Bench would deal leniently with him by discharging him, but if ever he appeared again he would receive all the punishment provided for by law. Black I.vckatitide.— George Vickers, a dark, beetle-browed man, of stalwart frame, was charged, on the information of John Xeylor, with having stolen a pair of trousers and sundry other articles from his hut at North-East Valley, on the 9th inst. A second count charged the prisoner with having, at the same time, stolen sundry property belonging to Charles Wilkinson.

Prisoner pleaded Guilty to taking the articles, but not to the felonious intent.

John Xeylor deposed that on the morning of the 9th inst., about 2 o'clock, prisoner came to his hut and asked for shelter. It was readily accorded him, aud he was also supplied with food. Wilkinson was living in the hut with witness, and, after breakfast, they both went out to work, leaving prisoner behind, with the injunction to make himself comfortable. When they returned in the evening, witness missed his property. He noticed that the bed had been turned over. The belt, trowsers, and stockings produced in Court, were his property, also the towel. He valued the things at about 20s.

G. A. Gillespie, chief officer of the ship City of _ Cashmere, deposed that the prisoner had shipped as seaman «v board that vessel, and on Saturday took a bag and bundle on board, and then went ashore again. Constable Xickle deposed that, acting under instructions from Sergeant Neil, lie went on board the City of Cashmere, on Sunday, with Wilkinson. Upon searching the forecastle, the bag ami bundle were found ; and when witness examined their contents, Wilkinson recognised as his property several of the articles in the bag. Witness subsequently arrested prisoner at Sayer'a Boarding House. The second charge against the prisoner was then investigated. Charles Wilkiuson corroborated the evidence given by Neylor, and also that when he returned to the hut on Friday night, he missed his things. A. half sovereign, hanging to his watch-guard, was gone, also a pair of scissors, some soai-% a knife, an<! pillow-case. Excepting the half sovereign, the missing articles were found in prisoner's bag. In reply to the Bench, Neylor said that prisoner brought a bag with him to the hut. Prisoner had nothing to say in defence, save that he took the articles by mistake. They were mixed up with his things. His Worship observed that a most impudent robbery had been committed by the prisoner. He had no doubt but that the latter had also taken and made away with the half sovereign. He would be sentenced to two months' imprisonment -with hard labour upon each charge, the seutences to be cumulative.