RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Thames Star, Volume III, Issue 1668, 23 April 1874, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THIS DAT. (Before J. Kilgoub and B. W. Pcoket, . Eaqs., J.P.'a) STBAT CATTLB.

William Davies was summoned for having allowed cows to stray in Graystreet.

Defendant pleaded guilty. Fined 10s and costs.

SIMILAR CHABGB.

Hugh Mackey was charged with a similar offence. ;;> ■■<'!■'■ ' Defendant pleaded guilty. Fined 2s 6d and costs.

LABCBNY.

John Donovan and Richard Muir were charged that they did feloniously steal and carry away from the toll house, Grahamstown, one opera glass, of the value of 20s, on the. 20th April, the property of one Richard May. The accused were two of a class sometimes met with on the Thames; looking homeless, fatherless and uncared for. No one appeared for them, and they pleaded not guilty Mr Sub-Inspector Bullen said it was with the utmost reluctance he brought such young children before the Court, but the boys had been connected with a gang of thieves, and the youngest of them had generally been put forward to pioneer the way for robbery. ■ ! Richard May, sworn, deposed —I recognise the opera glass produced. It was in the toll-house on Monday last. I never gave permission to the prisoners to take the .glass away. I kept the glass for the purpose of any one wishing to see a vessel coming in. :

Charles Curtis, sworn, deposed—J know the glass produced. ,It belongs tQ Mr May. I was on the wharf fishing on Monday, but saw the glass before I went. I saw the accused about the toll-house. I did not give the accused, the glass. j

SamUel Alexander, swown, said—l am a general dealer in Grahamstown. The accused brought me a pair of opera glasses. The boy asked,me if I would buy a pair of glasses. I asked liim where they were, and where he had got them. The boy told me his mother sent him. I kept the glasses, and told him to go back to' his mother and get an order for the sale. He came back next evening and said, "give me the glass "mother won't sell them now. I told him to go back, and tell his mother to come down herself. I heard the boy say "He won't give them to me." I afterwards gave constable Brennan the glasses.

To the elder prisoner: There was another boy with you. . "\ .Detective Brennan, sworn—ln consequence of information received, I went to Mr. Alexander's, and was handed the glass produced. In consequence of what he told me, I apprehended the prisoners. They said they knew nothing albout any glass. I took the elder, prisoner to Mr. Alexander's house. On the way he said Muir had asked him to sell them for him, and he would give him half. I took him before Muir, when Donovan said Muir bad stolen the glass. I have known the accused 18 months. Donovan is constantly in the street .with bad associates. I have received complaints from the neighbors round where the accuseds live.

The Bench told Donovan he was a very bad boy, and must go to gaol for one month. J...:i. - :' r.i, -\ •

ANOTHBB CHABGE

Richard Muir was charged with being a neglected child, and with being an associate of thieves.

Detective Brennan gave evidence to the eiTcct that the aocttied (quite » tittle

child) was constantly associated with thieves. His father is away in San Francisco. Like the other boy, he is wander* about the streets late and early. The mother, who was present, said the lad would be eight years old next June. The Bench sent the accused to the Industrial school for six years. Mr. Bullen asked the mother what religion she wished the boy brought up in. The mother thought at first that she would leave it to other guidance, as the boy was so young; but some touch of motherly feeling broke out, and she said, "lama Catholic myself, and wish him to be brought up in the same faith." The Court adjourned.