R.M. COURT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 3804, 27 July 1880, Page 2

R.M. COURT.

— » Monday, july 26. (Before E. Hardcastle, Esq., R.M., and His Worship the Mayor.) FELONY. The Court resumed at 2 p.m. r _ ■ Billy Wilson deposed — I am a mejntfer of the Christie Minstrel Troupe. I have known prisoner for about two months. He has been playing with me in the Arethusa Company. On Thursday last we all came* into town from Kai Iwi. I did not see prisoner until I left the Theatre. I went -into the Rutland billiard room then and saw prisoner. He was sitting down, and when he saw me he called to me and said he wanted to see me outsider We went outside and he asked me if I would take care of some money for him. I asked him "what money," as I knew he had no money. He replied "This money that I have in my pocket.'' I- said "How much have you got. " He said ' ' I don't know how much it is." I added that he had better count it, as I did -not like to take it without. Prisoner took the money out of his pocket and counted out £20 into a pockethandkerchief. It consisted of one £5 note, some £1 notes, gold and silver. I asked him where he got the money from. He' replied "Never mind, it is all right." I said "If it is all right, my boy, I will take care of it for you." Prisoner went back to the billiard room and I went down to the Occidental Hotel, where I lived. I put the money into my valise, and left it in my room. ,1 went out again and saw prisoner at the Rutland, Hotel. > I next saw him on Friday between two and three o'clock in the afternoon, somewhere near the Theatre. I asked him where he had stayed during the night, but I cannot recollect what he said in reply. I said that I had his money all right, and he asked me for some money to pay for a week's board, as he could not get into any place without paying in advance! We went to the Hibernian Hotel, and I gave him twelve and sixpence for half a week's board. I gave Mr Ancher my own money. I next prisoner on the evening of the following day (Saturday) near the Provincial Hotel. I told him that I wanted him to take his money. He said " All right, fetch it round the house for me." I went upstairs and took the money out, telling him to count it. He counted it and said it was right. I then said "Are you not going to give me something." He said " Certainty," and counted out £10 and handed them to hie saying "Here, Bill," take that." The money he gave me consisted of £1 notes and gold and silver. I did not tell him why I wanted to share with him. -We had a drink and parted: ' 1 Went back to the hotel and began to think about the money.' I heard on Friday that some money' was missing from Chavannes. On looking at the silver I found some of it had marks on it. Two half-crown's were marked. I put these coins on one side, intending to take them to Chavannes. I was afterwards in the street with Mr Easton, when Detective Sullivan came, up. He took me down to the hotel and searched me. He found the £J0 that I got' from the 'accused, and also 7s 6d belonging to .myself. I had not changed any of the money since receiving it from the prisoner, ( and the Detective took it from me in the, same condition as I received it. I was then! arrested and taken to the lock-up. (The half*' crowns and sixpence produced are three of the coins. I received from prisoner, the rupee, might have been one). I Knew prisoner had no money, because Mr Easton had paid his bills when up the country, and I also had given him money. I gave him some money! at Waitotara before we reached town. I never accused him of stealing the money from Chavannes. I first heard of the robbery on Friday morning. , . r Detective Maurice Sullivan deposed—On Saturday last \ searched the apartment occupied by Billy Wilson. I found him at ( the Victoria Hotel, and brought him down to the Occidental -Hotel. I read f the war* rant to him, searched himself, and' then th« room. On him I found £10 2s' 6d and a silver rupee. Two half-crowns were stowed away separately in a box, and Wilson said that he had had those particular coins in his possession some, time, before he came to Wanganui. I' afterwards ' arrested the prisoner and told him that he was charged with; stealing the cash' box and contents from the Victoria Hotel. I took prisoner to the' station. In the presence of the prisoner, Wilson made a statement' which was taken down in writing. The substance of the statement was taken down by Sergt. Bissett, and read over to Wilson before he signed it. Prisoner was not present when <it was read over. (The statement was repeated by the witness. It related the handing over of the money from accused to Wilson," and Wilson's conclusion that the money was not come by honestly after hearing of the robbery at Chevannes. When the money was handed back to prisoner Wilson said *' I ought to have my whack of that." The prisoner replied "Certainly, Billy, well go halves," and handed over £10. While Wilson was making the latter part of the statement prisoner interrupted and said " Then you are, as bad as lam. ) There are marks on the cash box near the look like the small nails' of a boot. I "compared the marks on the' box with the heel of the right boot worn by the prisoner at the time of his arrest. The tacks on the boot correspond exactly with, the marks, and the heel fits into the dent made. Cross-examined by prisoner — I did not find anything upon you when I searohed you, nor did I find anything in your room. , ;< By the Bench — I did not try to fit any other boot to the box but the prisoner's,) I did not try Wilson's. Wilson's hoot had' a different heel. (Wilson's boot was taken 1 off in Court), The. nails in Wilson's boot* would make m,arkjs twice as wide apart as; the marks now on. ■ The heel of the boot also does not fit into the dent. David Arthur Bowman — I am a negro' vocalist and belonged to the Arethusa ComSny. I saw prisoner about noon on Thursy last. I next saw him between 6. 30 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Rutland .billiard room, i apparently asleep. I also saw him at teni o clock while the Theatre was going on, He ! said "Come and have a dri.n(f," i replied " I have no money," thinking he meant me to pay for the drinks. He said' "Oh come on and I'll shout." We went from the billiard room to the Provincial Hotel and had the drinks. He paid. ' We came out and he said ''Come up the street and have a drink." Aa we were going into the hotel I heard some money rattle in his pocket. I said "Good Lord ! man you've got a heap of money there." He said "Oh I have always' got money, I'm never broke. " When we came out of the Provincial he gave me half-a-crown to. shout for him at Che vamvjs. I , took the money. I paid for the drinks and' got the change. Prisoner then borrowed a shilling. Thomas Watson Ferry deposed — I am landlord of the Occidental Hotel. I know prisoner and Billy Wilson. I remember the 22nd (Thursday). Wilson was then lodging with me. He was about the house most of the day. He came home about half-mast }1 p.m. He took a va^se gut qf Jihe hajp and a candle and wens upstairs, He came down' again about five minutes to 12 and went out. At 1.15 I came down and let in Wilson, and Bowman, Easton, and Clarke. I refused to let Clarke in. ' Wilson asked me in Clarke's 1 hearing to let accused have a bed, and, he; (Wilson) would pay fop it, On Saturday last Wilson paid me. $5s 84 all in silver for! his board unto Thursday next. Angelina Trice deposed — I am housekeeper 1 at the Hibernian Hotel. I remember Friday | last. On that day prisoner and Wilson came' to the hotel at half-past four. Wilson asked | me if I could give prisoner board, for little less than a week. He paid me" 12s 6d in advance in silver. The depositions were read over to the prisoner, and he was asked if he had anything; to say. Prisoner said :—": — " I do. not see how I am to be accused of this affair when another man was going round and paying everything for me. > I, do. not. see /Why I iam to be thej

Sufferer. If I had hjidthe-money I would have paid for myself/ / r , The prisoner was formally committed lor trial. ' * -'

• tfELONY.

Billy Wilson wn charged with receiving. £10 from Edward Clarke, knowing the same . to liave been stolen from Mr G. H. Cha«vanries, of the Victoria HoteL Hie accused Mid ne did not know th« money had been stolen. ~rv" ' Mr Sub-Inspector Goodall stated that the evidence w % aa the same as in the former case, and asked for an adjournment. — Adjourn- ' ment granted until next day.