SUPREME COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4507, 4 October 1882, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

o— — CRIMINAL SES-IOSS. Tuesday, Oct. 3. (Bofore His Honor Mr Justice Johnston.) STEALING FBOM TIIB I-BR3ON. Matilda Hansen was indicted for havinj stolon a pursj and £6 Kb from the petsjn oi Thonii'.s Maguire, on August 22. Nhe plcadod " JS'ot guilty." Mr Joyce appeared for t'^o prisoner, and at his request all witnesses in tho caso wen ordered out of Court. Mr J. 0. Martin conducted the prosecution, and called the following evidence : — Thomas Maguire, labourer • Had met prieoner at Mrs Thompson's, in Sydenham about 9 o'clock a.m. on August 22. Re maioed there till about nosii. Gave prisonoi half a eovereign from his puree for com* drink. Had a £5 note, a £1 note, and toi shillings. The purse produced was tho Bime Went tfith prisoner to her home, having hi: purso with £6 10s in it. Staved 1 horo till •: o'clock. 'look out his pur^o to "ebout " foi prisoner, who snatched it out of his hand and left thn hou«c. Did not sco her ogaii till tho " bubby " had hur in custody. Cross cxamicol : I was with Mrs Thomp sou the Might before. I got up about ( o'clock. I got a small flack of trendy, whicl Mrs Thompson and I drank. Wo woro no long in finishing it. i was not " tight.' Mrs Hansen got a bottle of brandy, whicl we drank. I could not cay how much '. drank. We took it in tea cups. I served i out. I think I took tho first cup. We wer a couple of Iv-urs over it. I was tight afte finishing tho boltlo. I fell asleep on Mr Hansen's bed. Sho took u.e there, I hai been drinking for a duple of days an< nights. I had a drink of tea about ' , o'clock. I suppose I went to sleep again , and woke about 4 o'rlooi. I had no watch | I saw my money about 3 o'clock. I was pu i out of the house by prisoner's husband , Next morning Sergeant Brooks took me t I Mrs Thompson's. I told him I had h.st m : money there. I don't remember wh*t h i taid to M.-3 Ihompson. I hivo bomi ljcke - up ever sinco. 1 was the w -rse for drinl t aud taid a dctectivo that I would go t i Sydno . , and givo no more evidence in thi • CUBO. [ MargAret Thompson, livitig in Sydonham , Knew tlie last v-atnru-B and tho prisonei , Kecognitod the purse produoed. Ha' ■ Maguire wilh a £5 note. The witne.fl r< I peated her former evidenoe.

it Cross-examined : Thoro was another man k- in prisoner', houae that afternoon. Maguiro t was " pretty well on." Next morning Sero geant Brooks and prosecutor came to my n house, and the latter asked for Mrs Hansen. y I explained that Mrs Hansen did not lire l- <?ith mo. At a quarter-past 5 Mrs Hansen r had left hor house, and I did not like to sco prosecutor in a woman's bed, whoso husband f was coming home. Mr Hansen owns my >s houso, and had given me notice to leave. I ,t had some drink with the other gentleman ; g not much. It was brandy. There was not a n drop of tea made. I saw brandy taken in to prosecutor. I was not oross with prisoner, t who ia better than I am. c Pauliue An.ten.en gave corroborative evil- dence, k Sergeant Charles William Brooks repeated f in subst+nco his evidence givon in the Court 0 bo'owas tothe nrrest of the prisoner. Bee ceiTed from the fomale searcher at the lockup the purse produced. Cross-examined : Prosecutor told me at first that Mrs Hansen had taken tha money at Mrs Thompson's. Frederick Henry Bowler, son of the licensee 1 of the Waltham Hotel: tfod changed a£s y note for the prisoner about half-past five on t August 22. Catherine Walsh, female searcher at the r Police Station : Had found the purse produced inside the prisoner's stocking, below ■ the garter. , This was the case for tho Orown. ) Mr Joyco addressed the Court, but called . no ovidenco for the defence. I His Honor summed up. a The Jury, without retiring, found a verdiot j of " Guilty." i Superintendent Broham informed the 9 Court that the prisoner had not been prer viously conviotod. t His Honor sentenced prisoner to tho " very lenient sentence " of imprisonment with hard f labour for six months. I The Court adjourned at 6.5 p.m. till Monday next at 11 a.m.

man that they are his enemies and opponents. > If thero is a man in Ohristohurch who feels wronged hy this seooud-term dodge, let him oome out and contest the seat, for I am sure that, if he has any claims upon them, tho i citizens will support him. In conclusion, I may say that my r.marks apply equally to i Ohristchuroh and to Sydenham.— l am, &0., PISOATOB.