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Wanganui Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4007, 25 November 1880, Page 2

Walter Williams, convicted of embezzlement, was brought- up, and, in reply to the usual enquiry what he had to say, said that he had no guilty intention in ; the matter, had received, no. money out of the contract, had spent but £7 of that entrusted to him, and must have lost the ■ remainder. He had previously borne a good character, keenly felt his present position, and Mr* Marchant was willing to back , his request i;f or a a lenient sentence. His Honor enquired if Mr Marchant was in Court, and on learning that he could not be. found, said he would assume the truth of prisoner's, statement: that Marchant had expressed his .willingness: to back the requesjb for. inercy,', especially as he (Marchant) had spoken: favourably of prisoner in giving his , evidence. His Honor said that, though he ' should have been bitter pleased . if • .prisoner - had ; simply) confessed that he had done wrong, under, Btrqngjfcemptation, yet, on account of his . previous good character he would pass a mild sentence, which was that prisoner be kept ; to^penal servitude for nine months. ' " v I BEOEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY. .

Billy Wilson having pleaded not, guilty of this offence, the following ; jury, wap panelled: John Alexander (foreman), Jos. Mills, Geo. Baker, Daniel Murphy,, Wm. . Me William, Thos. Hedley, John Broiigh, Henry Booker/ Samuel Thos. Wright, Robert Hair,- Michael Ley'don, Joshua H. Parker. '.; i , r - r Edward Clarke, in repeatwg.shej|tateinent made' by him before the Ij*s.;" confirmed Wilson's statement, about, returning the money on ; the Saturday., He sajdthaton the latter occasion Wilsoijaccused him of having stolen the [money, ' and , advised -. him to "square "it; or "share", it." Her was not sure which' expression was; used. Cross-examined by. Wilson he repeated the story of the money— had riot told Wilson how much was due him from the ship/in which he had been cook, when lie joined the Methusa Company in Wellington. /He also,;admitted that they counted the money in -the street after leaving the Rutland Milliard rrpom, but said he did not know' how much was in it till next day, and that on theSaturdayvfollowing he told Wilson that lie (Clark'e) . had not stolen the money. ' • [*-

D. A. Bowman said that he had a conversation with Wilson on the morning after the robbery, when 'the latter said he. had not then heard of the cashbox beingjfttolen. Bowman expressed . his willingness to " bet 4s that .Clarke had robbed" those white people, "android about he (Clarke's) having plenty of money, the' previous evening, Wilson "went off laughing "— according to Bowman's statement- at the strangeness of the statemev t. Bowman also, admitted that on this occasion Wilson remarked that perhaps Clarke had got the money due to him from the ship. , „ . ... * Detective Sullivan deposed;. tjiat Wilson said on being asked by him about Clarke, that he (Wilson) knew but' little about him, did not like to be seen speaking to. him, and was surprised that he had ever been admitted into the company.. This witness said that Wilson, in a conversation with Clarke, after their arrest, admitted haying said to him (Clarke)- ".You have stolen that money, and we had better go" whacks in it," butWilsod, in, cross-examination, tried to make it appear that what he actually, said was "If you did hot get this money off the ,sbip you must have stolen it." ' , I

' The 1 depositions made in the.RyM. Court were then read, and that, closed the case for the prosecution. " . ".' \' '\ , ' ... ,>' v i The prisoner on being asked if he had anything to say, said, he h&d beeni brought before the jury on a charge, thai he knew nothing about. With respect; to the statement put in signed by himself, he said that when he was taken to, the station-house he was so upset anil confused. with his position that he paid no particular atteption to what had been put down.' He did not believe until Friday; the day. after the robbery, that the money had been stolen, thinking Clarke had got it from the ship he [was so often talkingabout. , „, „ His Honor said the jury would have to be satisfied that the. money, was stolen money, and that the prisoner received it knowing it to be stolen. VThe 'evidence;, was then carefully reviewed and the jury .retired, and returned in an hour with .a.verdjictof not guilty. .The prisoner' was discharged with the remark froni,his Honor Jbliat he (Wilson) was very fortunate iv the lenient, view which tho jury had taken of the evidence in his I case. ' ;