RECEIVING STOLEN GOODS.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12502, 31 March 1909, Page 2

RECEIVING STOLEN GOODS.

Mabel Lee, the wife of a Chinaman, was charged with receiving on or about January 20th, from Hannah Jane Dane, one blue velvet costume, valued at £4, then knowing the said costume had been dishonestly obtained by Hannah Jane Dane. i : -Mr Magimrity appeared for accused who elected to be dealt with summar- ! ily and pleaded not guilty. Bertha Barker, stated that she leftMrs Heffer's in the middle of January, and did not return until the 22nd of March. -She loft behind her trunks containing certain wearing apparel, including a blue* velvet costume. When she returned- one trunk was gone, and the other trunk nearly emptied of its contents. Mrs Jenner, a neighbour of Mrs Heffer's showed her the costume, which she identified as her property. After making enquiries, at Jenner's, Mrs Heffer received a letter from Mabe. Lee saying that she had exchanged costumes with Jane Dane, and_ be-lieved-that -the one she had received had been stolen. After communicating with the police. Mrs Jenner. accompanied by Mrs Lee, returned the costume to her. ! In reply to Mr Maginnity , witness said that she could not "swear that it was Mrs Jenner who. returned the costume, but she believed it was. Harry CL Fitzsimmons, plain clothes constable, stated that on 23rd March the theft of a trunk was reported Jby Miss Barker, and in consequence of information received, he went to Mrs Heffer's and found Miss Barker, Mrs Jenner and accused together. He askeS Mabel Lee how she came by 'the costume, and she said that.Jane Dane had given it to her in exchange for two dresses that Dane had worn out belonging to her. Hannah Jane Dane, stated that while she was working at Mrs Heffer's in January last she told Mabel Lee there were some dresses in a trunk there. Accused told witness to wear them. She gave the trunk to Mrs Henman over the fence, and accused helped her to carry the trunk to Mrs Jenner's. Accused took the blue velvet costume out of the box herself and wore it. Accused knew her before she went to Mrs Heffor's. She knew that she (witness) did not have a tin trunk, and she knew what clothes she had. The box was opened at Jenner's in accused's pressenco. A-photograpli was put in showing accused and witness attired "in Miss Barker's clothes. Witness continuing, said that they both.wore- the other .Hats and dresses about the streets. . She knew that. Miss Barker was away. By Mr Maginnity : Mrs Lee wore the blue costume before she did, a day or two after she took the trunk from Mrs Heffer's. This closed the . case for the pros--1 ecution. - - Mr Maginity said the defence was. that accused did not know that the dress given to her by Dane was stolon property. ~ ■ Accused said she was the wife of Tin Lee. who was at present in Hong Kong, and he maintained her. . She denied that Jane Dane had any effects at Mrs Jenner's. In conversation with Miss Simmons '■•.•e day the latter, in the presence of Jane Dane, said, "You ought to see the clothes that has bought for Jama Dane to be married in." Janie Dane broug'it out the clothes for their inspection. At ten o'clock one morning. Jane Daiw passed the fin trunk over the dividing fence between Mrs Heffer's and Mrs' Henman's, and Janie Dane asked her to help to carry the trunk to Mrs Jennor'r.. She understood that the things were Janie Dane's property, and ; had been given to her by her young man. The trunk was left in some poplar trees, and was not taken "to Jenner's until -the aftemoonvDanc told her that she could have the loan^pf the blue costume, and she wore it, and then returned it. Jane said .that as , she had . spoiled witness' pink dress, she would give her a blue costume in place of it. She had no idea that the dress was the property of Miss Barker, until the latter made inquiries. Her suspicions were aroused by this, and she wrote the letter put in. by the police. Sergeant Dougan said accused has been convicted twice previously, of false pretences. Lucy Jenner stated that Jane Dane told her that her young ; man ■ had purchased the blue velvet costume and other dresses for her, and she was under the impression that the clothes belonged to her. This concluded the evidence. The Magistrate said it was an extremely suspicious case, at the same time it_was questionable whether accused at the time she received the costume knew that it was stolen. In view of the doubt, it would be unsafe to convict, and accused would bo acquitted. CIVIL CASES... Judgment by default was given, for plaintiffs in the following cases: — F. JLouissori anc j Co. (Mr Maginnity) v. D'Arcy Irvine, claim for £3 3s 3d, costs 10s ; Griffin and Sons, Ltd. (Mr Fell) v. T. E. Haines, Queensfcown, claim for £29 9s sd, :osts £2 14s; same v. F. J. W. Pape, Havolock, claim for £10 16s ?d, costs £1 10s 6d ; William Lock (Mr Maginnity) v. E. H. Stratford, Danvastown claim for £19 6s 3d, 3osts £1 10s 6d. ■ - ' ■ ■ ~." , ' \Aftervbhe VJR.C. Autumn Meeting the Hori Agar Wynn refused an offer if 1000 guineas for liis Grafton colt, Five Crown. • ■ • .