Magisterial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 705, 26 August 1870, Page 3

Magisterial.

CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M., and 6. Packe, Esq.) Dbttnkenness. — John Price, arrested by Constable Eares, was charged with having been drank and disorderly and resisting arrest yesterday. The case was proved, and a fine of 10s inflicted. Labcent. — James Bobs, alias Hoare, was brought up on remand, charged with having stolen a watch and money from the Raglan boarding-house. Detective Feast said he arrested prisoner on Sunday morning last at a brothel at Brick« wharf, and in answer to a question as to where ho had been the night . before, he said he had stopped at a house in Peterborough street. He averred that he had not been near the fiaglan boarding-house. On Monday witness was searching round a bouse in Peterborough street which had been In the joint occupation of prisoner and a woman named Thompson. He was poking about the foundation of the next house with a stick, two men, named Steele and Swindell assisting him, when the latter pulled out a handkerchief containing the watch and piece of greenstone produced. In the grass close by wilntss also found the $ham produced. Next morning he took possession of the puiae produced from a man named Steele. William Steele said he was a . flax imploye, and had been stopping at the Baglan boarding-bouse. On Saturday night last he was the worse for liquor, and went to , bed at the Baglan between nine and ten o'clock. He slept in a room by himself. It was on the first floor in the front of the building. On Sunday morning he missed his silver lever watch, and between £7 and £8 in cash. The watch he had left in his vest ' pocket on the bedroom table. He corroborated the evidence as to finding the watch and chain, and identified those produced as his property. The purse was also his. He last ,i .had it, wih the money in, in th« bedroom. He searched for the purse in the room on the Sunday morning, but could not flod it. In the evening of Monday he saw it lying on the floor of the room, but with only £S odd in it. - By Prisoner: He looked for the purse on the Sunday, but could not see it. He was sure it was not in the rotm. He found it on the Monday night. James fcwiudell, watchmaker, Papanui Road, proved to finding the . handkerchief, watch, and greenstone under „'. the foundation of his bouse when searching " with Detective Feast. Richard Bowman, an engine driver, said he was residing at the Baglan boarding-house. About 2 o'clock on Sunday morning he »w prisoner outside the • house, and asked him if be was going to bed. He was in his socks, and saidftbat he was. He followed witness in and went into Steele's bedroom, but returned, saying there ■was a man drunk inside, and that he would go upstairs to bed. Witness never r saw him again in the house, but heard some one say that he went away early in the morning 1 . Minnie Thompson said she had seen prisoner once or twice before. He had never resided with her, but bad taken a bouse for herself and JaJJiroman named Mrs Mitchell.

Ho only came to the bouse twice. He was there at about 2 o'clock on Sunday morning. He was outside the house. The house where the watch, &c.,Tvas found is nest to the house referred to. There is no fence between them. The houses are close together. By the Bench : She did not speak to prisoner, when he was outside the house on the Sunday morning. He knocked, but did not stop to ask to get in. Mary Mitchell said on Sunday night she was in one of the celte at the lock-up. The prisoner was brought in to an adjoining one, and in a conversation about the robbery of the watch which had been reported in the lock-up, he said that he hoped Feast would not go searching about the house, as he, prisoner, would be committed for trial to the Supreme Court if he did. W. Steele, re-called, said the value of the watch was under £5. Prisoner, in defence, denied any knowledge of the matter. His Worship said the Bench had not the slightest doubt aa to the robbery of a watch, and he would be sentenced to six months' imprisonment at hard labour.