Magisterial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 673, 20 July 1870, Page 2

Magisterial.

CHRISTCHURCH. This Dat. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M., Major Scott, L. Walker, and T. W. Maude, Esqrs. A Dangerous Character. — James Andrews, alias Peter Barns, alias John Wilson, alias M'Arthur, on remand, was brought up under the Vagrant Act, charged with having housebreaking implements in his possession, and with having no visible means of support. At the flrst hearing, evidence was given showing that prisoner was arrested with a number of instruments for picking looks in his possession, and that, besides having been six times convicted in Otago for housebreaking, he had recently undergone two years for a similar offence in Canterbury. The following evidence waß taken: — Robert Ball: I am a blacksmith, carrying on business opposite the Bush Inn at Hiccarton. The prisoner came to my shop about two days previous to the time he was arrested by Detective Feast. He asked me to do him a job, and asked if I had any cast steel. I said, " Yes, but not much;" and he replied that he did not want much. I then forged him some of it, and after he (prisoner) had made a screw tap, he finished three of the pick-look keys produced. The other three (produced) he had not time to finish before being arrested. I had the work in hand when Detective Feaßt called upon me, but had no idea of what the articles were really for. I continued the work after this. Prisoner brought the files produced with him. He made the left-handed screwtap (also produced) in my shop. The three keys completely finished are tapped with a right-hand screw, but the three unfinished ones were to have been tapped with the left-hand screw, tbat is— so as to act in the reverse way. I could myself have made the keys, if instructed, but I could not have made the tap. The latter is a most difficult work, and it is not often that one is seen. By Prisoner: When asking me to forge the keys, you said they were for trying experiments in flax dressing. Detective Feast compelled me to show him the keys when he called to get his horse shod. I have not much experience in locks. Robert Beattie, landlord of the Warwick Hotel: The prisoner came to my house on the 12th inst. and slept there. I showed him to his room myself. In the morning there were several complaints of prisoner going into other bedrooms. One man said he caught prisoner searching his pockets, and the other said he had lost 7s or 8s from his trousers pocket. Prisoner denied having been into the rooms. The men were going to thraßh him, but he left the hotel. George Cant : I am groom at Barnard's, and bave been residing at the Warwick Hotel. I recollect the prisoner sleeping there ona night. Another man was Bleeping ia my room, but in a separate bed. He was drunk, and had some money. The prisoner's room was convenient to my room. Soon after Mr Beattie had gone down Btairs prisoner came into my room, and said, " This is my bed." I replied it was not, and tbat I was told not to let any one into the room. He then wanted to turn the drunken man over, but I said he should not. By turning the man over I understood him to mean rob him. He said he would give me half, but I ref ased to countenance anything of the kind. Prisoner Bhortly afterwards went out. Joseph Day :I am barman for Mr Beattie. On the night prisoner slept at the hotel, he came into my room. My door was unlocked. He did not knock. I was aßleep, but his light awoke me, and I saw who it was. In reply to a question, he said he wanted a candle. He bad one in his hand. Next morning I heard severai people complain of prisoner having been into their rooms. By prisoner : There was not another man with you. You did not say that you were looking for a bed for little Tommy. Frederick Cooper : I was a warder in the Dunedin gaol during 1864-65-66. I knew the prisoner there under the name of Peter Burns. He was undergoing four years' imprisonment for assault and robbery. I know that prisoner was brought up before the Visiting Justices for trying to make his escape from the gaol. He was fired at wbile doing bo. He received an extra six months for thia attempt, under the Vagrant Act. Tbis concluded the case for the prosecution. In reply to the Bencli, prisoner said that, after all the evidence which had been brought against him, he did not think it of any use to call witnesses for his defence. He would, however, make a statement if the Bench would exercise the patience to hear it. He then proceeded to remark upon the injustice of his last committal for houße-breaking in Christchurch, alleging that at the time the robbery was committed, he was in the Dunedin gaol. His Worship said this was quite irrelevant to the present case, and oould not weigh with the Bench in their decision. Prisoner then said that when be came out of gaol (almost seven weeks ago), be tried hard to obtain employment, but could not. It was winter time, and nothing but cries of poverty met him when he enquired for work. Had it

been summer — shearing time or harvest when he came out of gaol, the matter would have been very different. Amongst other places, he instanced as having visited in search of work were the Selwyn Flax Works, the Meat Preserving Factory, and Leithfleld. Inspector Pender said he desired to inform tlie Bench that a large number of complaints had been made lately of attempts being made to enter houses at night — indeed, access had actually been gained to some. Of course it could not be said that prisoner was the offender, but it was perhaps advisable for the Bench te be informed that such bad occurred. After some consideration, his Worship said it appeared to the Bench that prisoner had been previously convicted several times in the colony, and now he was found, imme* diately after coming out of gaol, with picklook keys in his possession. There was also very damaging evidence of his conduct in a publio house.and altogether it appeared that he waa just one of those persons whom the Vagrant Act was specially intended for. He would be sentenced to two years' imprisonment at hard labour. Inspector Pender Bald he desired to state that Mr Ball, as soon as he became aware of what instruments the prisoner was making, aided Detective Feast in every possible manner. His Worship Baid the Bench were glad to hear this, and commended Mr Ball for it.