MAGISTERIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7923, 30 January 1904, Page 5

MAGISTERIAL.

LYTTELTO-T. Saturdat, Janttary 30. (Before Mr S. R. Webb, J.P., and Mr J. T. Brice, J.P.) . Case . Dismss_D.— Michael O'Connor pleaded not guilty to charges of drunkenness and of haying stolen a suit of clothes, valued at 30s. Sergeant Rutledge skid that in regard to the latter charge, the evidence now available' showed that the accused had not srtolen the clothes. Constable Connell stated that on Friday he arrested the accused, who was under the influence of i. liquor, and had a tweed suit in a parcel, j Accused said he h_d bought them, but j could not say where or from whom. The clothes answered the description of a suit reported as having been stolen in Wellington. Witness afterward, found that the accused had bought the clothes from a man named Brown. James Madden, a sailor, gave evidence to the effect that lie had seen the accused purchase thes clothes from Brown on board the schooner Huia. Mr Webb asked whether the police could not. have withdrawn the charge without offering any evidence when it was found that the accused had come by the clothes honestly. Sergeant Rutledge eaid that as the accused' , had been charged with the offence, the pro- j per course was to bring the matter before the Court, and place the presiding justices | in possession of all the circumstances. Mr j Webb said that the accused would be dis- j charged on the charge of drunkenness, and as to that of stealing the clothes, would leave the Court without a stain on his char- 1 acter. }