INNOCENT, but PLEADED GUILTY TO SAVE TROUBLE.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 522, 20 May 1880, Page 2

INNOCENT, but PLEADED GUILTY TO SAVE TROUBLE.

' P:A ?: ♦ " I':,. ■> At the Carlyle &.M. Court on. before Captain Wray, Mr 11. S; Peacock,and Mr J. W. Kenali, middle 'aged man, of respectable appearance, named John Sadlicr, was charged witli stealing seven shillings from the person of James Dwan, at Waverloy. A portion of the pocket had s bcen / cut away, and this was found oh the prisoner, together with seven shillings. - -James Dwan, laborer-; said : On -Tuesday, 11th, I went to the Wairoa Hotel at Waverloy, and changed two notes for silver. I got too milch liquor. A man cams in and paid for a pint of beer, and said it was the last sixpence ho had. I said I would pay his way for the night. I went to sleep on the sofa, and next morning I found (hat my trousers pocket had been cut and my money was gone. I do not recognise the prisoner as .being there..- : The prisoner asked : Wore not you and Dempsey, playing a game of hole in the wall when I'entered ? Witness: Yes, I think I was.

Prisoner: Did you see Dempsey give me change after paying for a, pint of beer ? Witness : I cannot say. I remember going into a room with Dempsey ami others and playing euchre, but I don’t remember asking yon to pay for me. Prisoner ; How many- ways are there into that room ? Witness ; I cannot say. Prisoner : Answer the question. Magistrate ; lie says he docs not know. Prisoner : As I had the misfortune to go into the house, the den. of infancy, I may as well plead guilty • . I ■ Captain Wray : Then you admit the charge ? •’ ' > ; Prisoner No, but in order to save aiiy : further trouble I plead guilty I place myself at your leniency. 1 Captain Wray ; Don’t say anything about saving trouble.. Prisoner: I am as innocent as a babe, your Worship, but it’s very provoking when the witness won’t answer the questions directly. It’s very disappointing,-and I merely plead guilty to save any trouble Sub-Inspector Bnllen ; 1 think be lias shown wisdom in pleading guilty, because he shuts out evidence that would show it is not the first time nor the twentieth time that he has been in a police court. ■ Prisoner : Me the -twentieth time? Never in a court before. Sub-Inspector: Yon know that hr pleading guilty you shut out the evidence of your antecedents. • ■ Prisoner : Then lot the case go on. .Coplain Wray : It is rather strange yon should plead in this way. Prisoner: It is rather provoking, your Worship, not to bo able to get a direct answer to my questions. Captain Wray : The sentence of the Court is that; you bo imprisoned one calendar month with hard labour in Wanganui gaol.