MAGISTERIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3217, 22 March 1900, Page 4

MAGISTERIAL.

llMAßU— Wednesday, March 21st. (Before C, A. Wray, Esq., S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Oharlea Harrington was charged with the above offence. Sergeant Fraser said that accused came to the station to report a robbery, and was then under the influence of liquor. Later on he was arrested m North Street very drunk. His Worship imposed a fine of 53. THEFT. Charles Richards was charged with the theft of £5, the property of Charles Harrington. Accused elected to be dealt with sum- * marily. Sergeant Fraser stated the facts of the case. The complainant came into totf n on Monday laat, and got very drunk. He met the accused about 11.30 p.m. The accused is a sailor on board the Wellington. The complainant went on board the ship with him and lay down on the hatchway and fell asleep. About 6 or 6 o'clock m the morning complainant awoke, and missed his money. He saw accused and taxed him with stealing it. Accused denied the charge, and complainant said, " Give me a pound and I will say no more about it." Accused gave him the pound. .Later on, when they had gone up the street, complainant made a further demand for 10a and accused handed him a half-sovereign. On meeting a constable complainant charged accused with the theft, and the constable arrested him. At tbe station accused made a statement that he would make it all right if the case was carried no further. To Accused : Did not remember being In the Criterion Hotel from 10 o'clock till 10.45 on Monday night. Did not know how much money he took on board the ship. S. Bowdic, cook on the ship Wellington, Baid that the accused received a small sum of money from him, but had not asked for it. Accused told him he had no money. J. P. John3on, watchman on the ship, said that he saw accused and Harrington on the ship, the latter lying on the hatchway asleep Accused came to him about 2 a m. with two pound notes, to get a bottle of whisky from the steward. Refused to allow him to see the steward, Constable Perniskie gave evidence that on Tuesday morning he arrested accused on the complainant charging him with stealing £8. Searched accused at the station, and found £1 17s 7d on him. Accused said that if the constable would let him go he would make it alright. Accused, sworn, said that on Monday night at 10 o'clock he met the oomplain--0 ant outside the Criterion Hotel. Another man was with accused at the time, and complafnant spoke to him, and invited them to have a drink. They stayed there till 10.45 p.m, and during that time Harrington spent a considerable amount of money on drink. At that time his friend wanted complainant to go home, and he would not go. When they got outside it was 10.50 p.m., and as complainant was rolling about, accused took him to the ship. On the journey down another bottle of whisky was procured and drank. They went on board the ship, and complainant lay down on the hatchway, and fell asleep. After a time accused noticed two pound notes on the hatch, and took a notion to get some more whisky but could not get it. In the morning complainant accused him of Stealing the money, and that made him stubboon. On complainant's demand, however, paid him £1, and; later on returned half a sovereign. His Worship said that accused had committed a serious offence, and it could not possibly be overlooked. He would take into consideration that drink was at the bottom of it but still it was a robbery. Accused would be sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour. The Court then rose.