POLICE COURT. FRIDAY, JULY 17.

Colonist, Volume VI, Issue 599, 21 July 1863, Page 3

POLICE COURT. FRIDAY, JULY 17.

THEFT OT MONEY IN A PUBLIC HOITSE,

On Friday, Win. Gill, of Nelson, laborer, was brought before Mr. Poynter, charged with stealing three onepound notes from the pocket of the coat of John Action, in the public-house of Stephen Adam, Haven Eoad.

It appeared, from the evidence of the prosecutor, that he had been dancing in the house to the music of a concertina, had grown warm, and taken off his coat, in which was a small note-book containing the three one-pound notes. After finishing dancing, he put on his coat, but the money was gone from the book. Some one then told prosecutor that prisoner was seen with the book. Prosecutor followed him to the Victoria Hotel, charged him with taking the notes, which he denied, and a fight ensued, prosecutor again taking off his coat for the fight. When he put on his coat again, he found the book had also been lost. In cross-examination, witness denied taking out his book, or showing it to prisoner or to any on© else at Adam's.

Edward Bienvenue, accountant, living at Adam's public-house, deposed to seeing prisoner sitting on same seat as prosecutor's coat was lying on, and saw prisoner while there looking at a small memorandum book for some time. Witness neither saw nor heard any communication between prosecutor and prisoner. Arthur James Hoskins corroborated the other witnesses' statements, and agreed with them in the description of the note-book, which he saw in the hands of the prisoner. Prosecutor was not drunk, but had had liquor.

The case was adjourned until Saturday,