Monday, October 21.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2587, 22 October 1867, Page 4

Monday, October 21.

LARCENY.

Andrew Caldev and William Higgins were! placed in the dock on remand, charged with stealing a tigev skin, value £5, and other articles, from Mr Jamea Bragge. I James Bragge, a photographer, residing in! Manners street, said that on Thursday morning ! last ho missed from an out-house on his promises j a tiger skin and a hat. He gave information to I the police. Cross-examined by Higgins : Witness said he had never seen him before. Andrew Cairns, barman at tho Nelson Ale House, said that on Friday morning the prisoner Higgins came into the bay and told him he had found a tiger skin in Cuba street, at the Bame time asking what ho should do with it. Witness recommended him to advertise for the owner, and prisoner said ho was too poor to do to. Prisoner hud a bundle with him containing tho skin now lin court. Tho prisoner Cakier was in the bar at the time, but appeared to have no connection with Higgins. About a quarter of an hour after Higgings epoko about tho skin, a police constable came in, and pointing to the bundle said to Higgins "Is that yours." Higgings said it was not, and was taken into custody. Caicler was apprehended at the same time.

Cross-examined by Higgings : Witness recollected prisoner telling him he was about to go to Melbourne.

Sergeant Michael Monagluui deposed to seeing the prisoners on Friday in tho Nelson Ale House. Ho thero arrested Higgings, who denied the ownership of tho bundle beside him, but who, while being led to tho station houso said, " You had bettor take Caldor," whereupon tho other prisoner was also arrested. Witness then gave the prisoner Caldor n bad character, and said iliggings had before been in trouble for trying to get seaman to desert their ships. This closed the case for the prosecution.

In defenco Higgings said that when drunk on Thursday wight last he had met Caldor, who gave hira the skin to carry. Calder also pleaded intoxication, and denied all knowledge of the circumstances as narrated. His Worship said the case was somowhat of a difliculfc nature, as there was not sufficient evidence to warrant him in sending the prisoner Higginge for trial. Against Caldor there was no evidence whatever, so ho was discharged, against Higgings thero was some, consequently he was committed to gaol with hard labor for the space oi ono calendar month.

TJTTEUINO- A I'OHORD CHEQUE. William Henry Herring was brought up on remind, charged with uttering a forged cheque Mr Borlase appeared for tho prisoner. William Olapimin, of Nghauranga, said that on Tuesday night last the pmoner came to his house and asked him to cash a cheque for £8, signed J. E. Herring, at tho same time asking for supper and a bed. Witncsß cashed tho choque, and prisoner shortly afterwards seeing a trap tit tho door, said it was a good opportunity for getting into town and left. On tho following day witness sent the cheque to the Bank, whore it was dishonored.

The Edv. Mr TTcrrin* said that tho prisoner was lm brother. Me h.ifl never drawn the cheque ; the signature in no way resembled his, uud wus

in his brothor'e handwriting. Prisoner had no authority to sign cheques with ■witness's name. Mr Tate, Manager of the Union of Bank of Australia, deposed to the fact of the cheque having been presented at the Bank aud payment refused.

i The prisoner, who made no remark, was then committed for trial, but admitted to bail, himself in the sum of £100, and two sureties in a like j amount each. STEALING FISH. John Kelty, an inveterate toper, was placed in the dock to answer a charge of stealling three emoked fish from the premises of one John Ashton. I From tho evidence it appeared that on Sunday morning Ashton heard a noise in his fish-room, and on going to tho spot saw Kelty calmly picking out the best of his stock, preparatory to going off with them. As soon as Ashton's presence was made known to Kelty, ho told him he had found a customer, and would pay for what ho had intended to take. Ashton, however, seeing that Kelt} was making for a bolt, knocked him down and sent for a constable, who marched him off to tho Btation-house. In defence, Kelty confessed to a weakness for tobae*cb and grog, but indignantly denied that he was a thief. His Worship thought the evidence conclusive, however, and sent the prisoner to gaol for three months.

BREACH OF CATTLE ORDINANCE,

Mr Thomas Harris appeared to reply to a summons taken out against him by Sergeant Monaghan charging him with having on Sunday morning driven a. number of cattle through, the public streets. Mr Harris expressed regret that he had inadvertently infringed any law, and stated that hia only reason for driving the cattle on a Sunday was that it was absolutely necessary the animals should be shipped as soon as possible

Sergeant Monaghan said that complaints had been made to him of the danger to the community occasioned by some wild cattle being driven, about the street.

His Worship looked over the ordinance and cautioned Mr Harris that he had laid himself open to a penalty of £5 a-head for every animal he drove through the streets, but in consideration of the fact of this being tho first case of the kind brought before him he would inflict the mitigated penalty of 20s and costs.