POLICE COURT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9145, 28 July 1891, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

Monday, July 27. — Before T. King, Esq, J.P., G. Curtis, Eaq, J.P., and J. Hughes, Esq, J.P. ALLEGED STEALING FROM DWELLING. _ William Barnard, on remand from Friday, was charged that he did, on May 25th, ; Bteal the sum of £3 from tiie dwellinghouse of Charles White, at Bell Block. Inspector Pardy prosecuted. Mr Hughes appeared for the accused. (Continued from yesterday) The Court resumed at 2.15 p.m. C. White, sen.'s evidence continued : Barnard did not owe him any money. By Mr Hughes : Witness lived at the hotel. He did not go away contracting now. Ho had given road contracting up ; nearly two years ago. It was a little past j 6 o'clock when he reached the hoi el on j May 25. He did not sorvo in tho bar that | evening, but put things away that he had i at tho racecourse booth. Ho saw Barnard j several times during the evening. Barnard had had a glass or so, but he was not drunk. He saw no fun going on between Barnard and the women, who were behind \ the bar. There woro a good many people in the house. After Barnard left the bar witness saw him next in tho dining-room. ] Barnard left tho hotel a few minutes past ten o'clock. He knew it was ten o'clock, because ho was supposed to close at ten o'clock. He looked at tho clock to seethe time to close. There were two clocks ] going. Ho looked at the clock in tho dining-room. Ho closed the bar at ten o'clock. They all loft at 10.10 p.m. except four lodgei-B, Mr Rumba], of Ngatimaru; a young man from Normanby, and two others stayed at tho house. Barnard owed him nothing when he loft. Barnard did not owo him 2s 6d lost on cards. Ho believed aome played cards in the diningroom that night. He did not serve them with drinks. Ho did not see Barnard change half a sovereign. Barnard would not be speaking the truth if he said he did not leave the hotel till 1 o'clock in the morning, no played ono game of cards with Barnard about ten o'clock. He did not see Charlie Colson inside tho bar. He heard of tho loss of tho money the saino evening from his wife. Northcote spoke to him next about it. Charlie Colson spoke to him next about it He did not mention the matter to Jamea Butterworth ; he did not know if his wife had. When Barnard came out and had a conversation outside the hotel with witness, the latter told Barnard that between £2 and £3 was missed, and witness's wife then came out and he believed she said " Yes , between £2 and £3."" He did not lay an information against Barnard before this because he had no proof that he took the money ; he was not there to see it himself. Witness was asked a few questions in re-examina-tion. Charles White, jun., stated he was licensee of the Prince of Wales Hotel. He was in the bar of the hotel on the night of May 25. Accused and two or three others came inside the bar. Messrs Salway and 0. Colson, he believed, were among those inside the bar. Mr Yeates came in afterwards he believed. Ho went to the till to put money in, and give change while Barnard was there. There was something like £3 worth of silver in the till when he saw it. Barnard was the laet outsider in the bar. His mother told hiai about the money being missed, when he left the bar the last time that night. The missing money was his property. By Mr Hughes : His residence was in Inglewood, where he had resided about 5 years. His mother and father managed the business in his absence. Mrs Aubrey fainted in the bar. The bar was not crowded when she fainted. He lifted her up when she fainted. Barnard was not at any time by himself behind the bar. Barnard had drink in, but was not drunk. Barnard had only ono drink to his knowledge. He did not see Barnard " skylarking" with the ladies bohind tho bar, but saw him talking to them. Ho did not see Barnard put his arm round one of the ladies' necks. He never heard of anyone doing so. The house was shut up at 10 o'clock. Charles Colson deposed that he waa in the Prince of Wales Hotel between 6 and 7 o'clock on May 25. He saw accused in the hotel inside the bar, about half way down. Witness was standing at the small door leading into tho counter. Three females aad Charles White, jun., wore also inside tho bar when he was there. Messrs Salway and Yeates were in the dining room at this time. When he looked in Barnard was standing close to the till, which was open. Barnard had his back to the till, and hiß right hand was behind him in tho till. Witness did not sec Barnard put his hand in, or take it out, but he saw him with his hand in the till. W hea witness saw this ho walked away; he did not say anything to the Whites, as he thought it was not his business, as they were iv the bar themselves. He could not say how far the till was open. By Mr Hughes: Witnofls was at tho races that day. Ho had tea at home. He had ono driuk at the races, and he thought he had two at White's tho same night. He bad port wine hot at White's. He saw Barnard at the races, and at White's too. Barnard was not what ono would call sober. There were a few natives in front of the counter. Ho saw nothing taken from tho till. Nothing was token that he know of. Thoy played cards later on in the evening. Messrs Salway, S. Rundle, C. White, sen , Barnard, and himself were present, and euchro was tho game. Bar nard took money out of his pocket during the game— a half crown, witness thought. He did not soe Barnard change a halfsovereign. He loft the hotel about 10 o'clock, and got homo about two or three hours afterwards. He had a conversation with others on the way. It was not on account of not being able to walk straight that took him so long to get home. He played cards with Barnard after he saw him with his hand in the till. Re examined : When he played cards with Barnard ho did not heur about any money being taken from the till. Samuel Rundle deposed that he knew tho accused. Barnard gave him borne money on the secoud or third Saturday after the 801 l Block races, to take to Mr White. The races were held on May 25. The amount was £2. Barnard asked him if he was going thiough the Block, and if he would take borne money to Mr White. Witness replied he would, aud Barnard gave him ±,2, which he handed, over to Mr White. Barnard did not say what the money was for. By Mr Hughes ; Ho had known Bartwrd frr four or ttv« yean, twO. fad I^4

dealings with him. , Witness had no trouble with Barnard, but found him straightforward. He had a game of cards with Barnard on May 25. Witneß9 left the hotel after Barnard. Witness did not know the time. The bar was then closed. When Barnard gave him the £2, ho stated that if he heard anything more about " it" he would smash their heads and their house, or words to that effect. Witness could not say if Bernard said to him, " Tell old mother White if I hear any more of her liea about this matter, I'll smash their heads and their house." He j could not say if such was tho substance of cnything Barnard said. On the previous Saturday Barnard told witness that White \ had made an accusation against him (Barnard). Barnard paid witness what j he owed him in bets on the night of tho races. This was the evidence, and the case was then adjourned till Tuesday at 10.30 a.m.