MAGISTERIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9272, 26 June 1908, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH,

Friday, June 26. (Before Mr W. H. Cooper, J.P., Mr H. A. Bruce, J.P., and Mr, G. B. Chick, J.P.), Alleged Theft. — William Preston and Alexander Gardner were charged with having on June 18 stolen about £5 from W. J. Stevens. Mr Donnelly appeared lor accused and Chief-Detec-tive Bishop on behalf of the police. "Stevens said that he was a farmer at Brookside, and came to town on June 17 with the greater part of £10 in his possession. He paid £2 away in Christchurch. On June 18 he left Christchurch by a train at 14.45 p.m. Prior to leaving he was ih company with some men, and had about £5 on him in notes and silver. He bad had a few drinks, but was quite sober. He had a slight recollection that the men who were with him had put their hands in his pocket. Afterwards he went to buy a paper and found his money gone. In cross-exam-ination by Mr Donnelly, witness said that he had several parcels and lwst them. Robert Davidson Petrie, an hotelkeeper, said that on June 18 between 4 and 4.15 p.m., he was standing at the door of his hotel in Manchester Street, and noticed two men opposite. They stood on the path. One was Stevens and tbe other was Preston. They were arm-in-arm. Gardner and another man came up. Preston was on tbe lefthand side of Stevens. He lifted up Stevens's mackintosh and put his hand in Stevens's pocket. He then went to tbe right-hand side and did the same thing. He then withdrew his hand and put it in bis own pocket. Ho then, let Stevens go. The man he did not know went with Stevens to the station. The accused waited for a short time and Preston showed Gardner something in his hand, but he could not say that it was money. The men then went over to witness's hotel, and he refused to let them in. Gardner pulled his hand out of his pocket and showed witness 3d, saying "that was all he got out of it." While they were arguing, Preston had gone t9 Dundas Street, and Gardner followed him. They went on to a vacant section and remained there for four or five minutes. From there they went to Colombo Street, where they were ar^ rested. Edwin Blakeway, a fruiterer in Manchester Street, gave evidence corroborative of that given by Petrie. He added that he had rung up tbe police, and had followed accused. When they were arrested, Gardner said, "You didn't see me do anything." Detective J. Kennedy said that in company with Detective Bishop he arrested accused. He searched Preston, who had 13s on -him. Later he searched Gardner, who had 4s 9d on him. Mr Donnelly addressed the Bench, saying that the case was a very weak one. Tho chief detective had pointed out that tiie" men had been watched all the time, and £5 was said to have been stolen, yet it had not been returned. The accused had nothing to say, pleading "Not I guilty," and were committed for trial |at the Supreme Court. Bail was. allowed in £100 each accused, and ''two sureties of £100 each.