RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 662, 24 May 1870, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Monday, Mat 23. (Before J. Giles, Esq., E. M.) James Harper, charged with drunkenness, was fined 10s, or in default 24 hours' imprisonment. LAECENT. The above named appeared to answer a second charge of having stolen a stove of the value of £3 10s, from one George Carter. Prosecutor, sworn, stated that lie resided at the South Spit, and up to the 28th ult. had occupied premises known as the Waterman's Arms, in Wharf street, Westport. He removed on that day leaving a stove and a few other things which he purposed taking away soon afterwards. He returned on the 2nd inst. and found the stove had been taken away, in consequence of which information was given to the police. He next saw the missing property on Sunday last, fixed in a stable at the South Spit. A constable of police and prisoner were in the stable at the time. Witness identified the stove produced as his property, and had given no authority for its removal. By Prisoner : The stove was not in the Waterman's Arms when I came to occupy. I purchased it in Charleston for £3 10s, and it is as valuable to me now as at first. I had another stove there. There is no door at the back of the Waterman's Arms, there is an open space and an\'one might go in or out. I left no one in charge of the premises.

William Williams, constable of police, stated that on Sunday last he visited premises at the South Spit to search for the missing stove. He found the prisoner in a house which he said was occupied by him. The stove produced was there, and was claimed by the prisoner, who stated he had purchased it from a party who had gone up the Buller. Witness then fetched the prosecutor, who identified the property, and he arrested prisoner. The latter afterwards told some boatmen that he had taken the stove thinking the house was abandoned.

Two previous convictions were put in against the prisoner for stealing a keg, and alao having obtained goods by false representation. Prisoner stated that a party, who bad worked with him and had since left the district, occupied the Waterman's Arms previous to Carter. The man left a stove and told accused that he might have it. The latter had thought no more about the matter until passing the house in Wharf street, when his attention was called by a number of children running about, and on going in he found some pigs rooting about. The stove was embedded in mud, and with the assistance of another man he carried it to the river, and washed it. The stove was cracked and appeared to be valueless, and on being questioned by the police be at once stated where he had taken it from.

His Worship sentenced the prisoner to six months' imprisonment with hard labor.