MAGISTERIAL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7198, 5 February 1892, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL

• CHRISTCHUBCV. This Dat. (Before E» Weatenra and E. Dobaon> Esqa.) . Dbonsbnnkss. — Mary Mitchell, for drunkenness in Cambridge terrace, wm fined Ge. — A first offender was fined 6s. By-laws.— David Middleton and Alfred E. Freece were fined 5s each for . riding bicycles after dark without lights. . JohaWay and William Ballinger were fined a similar amount for driving without lights. Lab££KT. — Evelyn Rebecca Pearson was charged with stealing five silk handkerchiefs,, one sheep's ear-punch, one gold, pin, a set of lady's collars and cuffs, some neck- • ties, two pairs of shoes, of the total value of Mia 6d, the property of W. A. Low,, of St Helens, on Jan. 19. The accused elected to be dealt with summarily,, and was defended by Mr Cresewell. . William Alfred Low, runholder at St Helens : Accused was in his employ up till Jan, 19, as housemaid. During the time • Bhe was there bis eon died, and he toldri accused on no account to go into his son's room. Some collars and cuffs belonging to Bars Lomaz Smith were Been, to be in m. chest of drawers after that lady had left the houße. Later on search was made for them, as the family were going . to« ©htietohurch, and the articles were,, then missed. The accused was asked to find the things, and went totheroonv where they bad been, and returned soon : afterwards, saying she could not find them.. Later she was given every opportunity ot returning the things, which she did not avail herself of, denying any knowledge off the missing articles. Her room wa» searched afterwards by two ladies, and the collars and ouffa were found on the bed and the handkerchief in. her boxHe accused her later on at the police station of taking a sovereign and halfsovereign, and a gold pin with a small round head. The pin,, was found in her boxes with the Bilk handkerchief, punch for earmarking sheep, and two pairs of slippers. Constable Johnstone, stationed at Gulverden, arrested the girl on the charge. Detective O'Connor : < On Fe*. 2 searched, the accused's box at the Police Station. in Mr Low's presence. Accused claimed that the pin and ties-wene her own. Mr Cresswell argued that- the information should be dismissed, on the ground that the articles belonged' to the late Mr Harry Low and to Mrs Smith. The Bench overruled the objection. Evelyn Bebecoa Pearson, defendant : Mr Low told her on the Monday that she would have to go on tba- following day. She was working late that night getting her waning done. She was not. on good terms with the cook, and~ 80 worked in her own room. She did not know how the marked handkerchief got into her box. The collars and cuffs marked IK Lomas- Smith were on her bed with some of her things. When, she was asked about them, she ariked the ladies to look through her thingp. She did* not know how the handkerchief got into her box. She wore the rod Blippera about the house for six weekß, and took them aa oast oft They wore in the washhouse wben found. The gold pin bd» brought from Ireland. Sbe did not know how the punch came into her box. The silk handkerchiefs were her own. The ink bottle Bbe> bought when Bhe fint came to Chrißtchuroh. She bought the tiefrat Ballmtyne's. |T. Pparaon, father of tbe accused: His daughter had an inkpot like the one in Court, about twelve months ago. Mrs Pearson, mother of accused, identified some of the handkerchiefs as her daughter's property. Jameß Peareoo, a brother of aocusod, identified the pin and ink bottle m bis sistftr'e property. Louisa Pearson identified eome> of the ties so her Mster'B property. Tbe- Bench gave aocused the benefit of the doubt with regard to the toilet vinegar, the inkstand and tbe pin, but they had sot the slightest doubt of her guilt with regard to the other things. They adjourned the case for a week for tbe Probation Offloer's report. Bail was allowed in ftCCWJed self ftnd Qno otter eujefcy of 425.