A COOL ROBBERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1489, 29 May 1880, Page 21

A COOL RO BBERY.

At the Port Chalmers Police Court on Saturday last, Henry Kylirciid, a, ship's steward, was charged upon tho information of Joseph Manillestan with" stealing a gold locket and chain, and two diamond rinys, valued at £G9 10s, on the 21st inst. The prisoner did not plead. — Joseph Maudlestan deposed : I am a cordial manufacturer, late of Wellington, and was a passenger on board the Te Anau, whicli arrived at Port Chalmers last Wednesday. I was accompanied by my wife, and was on board the steamer about 1 o'clock on Friday morning 1 . I noticed the prisoner in my cabin shortly before that hour. I saw the prisoner going' about from one bunk to tho other, as if lookingfor something. After being on board for some little time, when the passengers wont to bod the prisoner went round and lowered the lights. I remarked that I wauled to read, and to the best of my belief the prisoner said it was time to go to bed. I saw my wife between 9 and 10 p.m., on Thursday, when she retired with the other females to her cabin. I next saw her about 2 o'clock on Friday morning 1 , when she said that she had been robbed of her jewellery and purse. I saw her wearing- the locket and chain produced when she was going to her cabin. lam certain my wife did did not go on shore after I bade her good-night, between 0 and 10 o'clock on Thursday. The prisoner was not out of my sight from the time my wife went to bed, and the other passengers retired, about 1 o'clock. I identify the locket and chain, value £20 ; one, diamond ring-, value £27 ; and diamond enamelled rintr, value £22 10s, as being the property of my wife. — By the Prisoner: I am certain it was you who lowered the lights. I saw you go to different bunks on the other side of where I slept.— Julia Mandlestan, wife of tho last witness : I retired to my cabin between 9 and 10 on Thursday night last. Between 1 and 2 on Friday morning I was disturbed by hearing- a woman say, " What are you doing- here?" Some man replied, "It is all right— l am the watchman." A lady passenger said, " You are no watchman " ; and then called out, "Ladies, look out for your purses and watches !" I immediately jumped up and felt for my purse, which was in my dress, hanging on a hook close to the head of my bunk. The purse (containing two diamond rings), tho keys, and the locket and chain were gone. I saw the locket and chain and the purse which contained the rings previous to my going- to bed. The locket and chain and the two diamond rings now produced I identify as my property. I did not authorise anyone to remove them. From the time I bade my husband good - night, between 9 and 10 on Thursday, until I missed my property I had not been out of my cabin.— Aifred Feast deposed : I am a mariner, and reside at Port Chalmers. I know tho prisoner, who has beon staying with me for the last fortnight. He was away from my house from 3 p.m. on Thursday until very early on Friday morning, when he returned. I got up out of bed and went into the sitting-room, where I saw him. He was laughing- and rubbing- his hands over his face. I saw tho two rings now produced on his finger. I asked him where he got them, and he said he had had them given to him, but that that was not all ho had. lie then pulled out of his pocket tho bracelet and chain now produced. Ho said a Jewess had given them to him. I said she must have been drunk. He said he was on board the Te Anau, and that tho Jewess was with him for a walk alongthe prisoners' road. The things were left in tho front room all night, and on the following- day I handed them over to the police. I think tlie prisoner had boon drinking-, blithe appeared sensible. — Thomas Leech, police constable stationed at Port Chalmers, deposed that yesterday morning he called at the liouso of the last witness, who handed over to him tho two diamond rings and locket and chain now produced. — The Prisoner, having been cautioned, made the following statement :— " On Thursday evening- I went on board the steamer To Anau to see a friond named I^y. After I had been been on board some time I told him I was going to the Tararua. He said lie would accompany mo, and asked mo to g-o with him to Dodson's to have a bottle of ale. After that I went on board the Tararua to see a friond, and then came back to Dodson's ; from there we went to M'Guire's and then to Morkanc's, where we played billiards. He asked me to come on board with him while ho had tea, and to havo some tea with him, bnt I declined. We then went ag-ain to M'Guirc's. While there, he asked me if I knew of a jeweller that would put a stone in a ring 1 . I took him to Mr Gott's, who allowed him to put the stone in the ring himself. We then came down to the dock, but the To Anau was hauling- out. I told him if he walked round to the Railway Pier he could get ou board all right. Wo went into Dodson's and had two bceis each, and after that wo wont to the Te Anau. lie asked me to come on board, as he had yot sonic good whisky above proof. We went into the fore cabin, where they were playing-cards. He said "Let's have some whisky." After we had had two or three drinks of tho whisky, he said, " That has just put me all right." I said, "It has put me all wrong." He asked me to have more, but I declined, and lay down on a settee. Ido not remember turning- any lights down, or going 1 to any other bunk than Mr Low's.— Tho prisoner was committed for trial.