RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2156, 1 December 1875, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DAY.

(Before J. Kilgour and.E. W. Puckey, Esqs., J.P.'si)

STRAY COW.

Joseph Latham was charged with a breach of section 8, Bye-law No. 3, Borough of Thames, by permitting one cow to wander at large in Baillie street, 1 Thames.

Defendant's wife appeared and pleaded guilty. Fined 2s 6d and costs LARCENY.

Michael Connelly was charged that he did on or about the 26th November, 1875, feloniously steal, take and carry away from the Waiotahi Creek a number of pieces of wood of the value of 10s, the property of John Mclnnes.,, Defendant,pleaded not gStltydf talcing timbsr from Waiotahi Creek.

It. appeared, said Mr Bullcn, that Mr Mclnnes was contractor for removal of a plant from the Waiotabi Creek. • While carrying out that^ contract he had missed timber and iron spouting. He had communicated with the police and a search had been made, the result being the finding of the pieces of timber now produced in the prisoner's possession, which prosecutor identified by private marks put upon the pieces for the purpose of enabling him to put them up again. He (prisoner) had said, when charged with stealing the timber, that he had bought it from a man. Then he said he had found it, and now he came into Court and pleaded not guilty.

Prisoner said he did not take the wood from the Waiotahi Creek, but from the Moanatairi side. Unfortunately for him, going home on that day he " met them two pieces of board " on the road, and he carried them home to his yard for firewood. He was very sorry, and hoped the Bench would deal leniently with him. He had a family of helpless children dependant upon him, and if he were sent to gaol he didn't know what would become of them. He further said that he had been seven years on the Thames and he had never been before a magistrate in his life until now. ;

John Mclnnes, sworn, deposed—That he was a carpenter and contractor. He recognised the two pieces of timber produced as being a part of the machine house he (witness) was removing from the Central Italy mine to the Queen of the May. He had given no one permission to take it away. He valued it at 10s. " :

In cross-examination witness said as they took down the engine house the timber was left on the road for the sleigh, and it was again left on the road for the waggon, as the ground was very rough. The Bench said no doubt, leaving the timber on the road was some temptation, but it was no justification for stealing it. The sentence of the Court was three days' imprisonment with hard labor.

Court adjourned.