R. M. COURT, ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2114, 26 January 1886, Page 2

R. M. COURT, ALEXANDRA.

S vruRiUY, Jan. 23rd.— {Before Messrs R. Mackay, F. G. (iermann, and G. W. Wilkinson, J.P.) John Warren, a half-ga4e, Mas brought up on remand charged wttli breaking aud entering the store of Mr J. D. Hill, at Alexandra, and feloniously taking away the sum of £3 13* in money, and one shawl valued £2. Tbo accused pleaded nut guilty. Mr W. Oliver was sworn as interpreter, and Inspector If iely prosecuted on the part of the Crown. Inspector Kiely applied to the court that the indictment chaiging the primmer be withdrawn, as sinae the prisoner's arrest other articles had been found to have been taken away from the stme. A fiesh indictment was then read, charging tho prisoner with forcible entry and taking away the sum of £2 3* in silver coin, 30a in copper coin, one shawl, valued £2 ; one pair of boots, 18s; one pair of riding pants, value 3Qi, and one silver Waltham Hunting watch, value £3, the property of MrJ. D. Hill. Inspector Kiely briefly remarked on the case, aud called and examined Mr J. D. Hill who deposed : — I am a storekeeper residing at Alexandra. I know the accused. I was in the store engnged in business up to quarter past eight in the evening of the 18th inst., Mr Johnstone assisting. As usual I fastened the front; dfjor on leaving the Store.' There is fanlight over tlie entrance door of this store, consisting of two panes of glass 2ft. Gin. by lft. Gin. In one pane was a small hole, caused I think by a stone. The fanlight was about eight feet from the ground. There were three empty cases in the verandah, which by making Use of them, enabled any one to reach the fanlight easily. I left £2 3i in silver, and about 30s in coppers in the till ; it was left for the purpose of giving change in" 'thb morning. I had three watches in a glass qasq oa tho counter, I henrd tf the

i st'iie h.mng been rubber! about half-past eight on tho morning «>f tho 19th. Saw \vhf'i'> tie entiv h.ni been nude by tho brnl.un niii-<« on the ground ; from tlie fanlight I could have R"t ni inv-rlf. I misled the, money and .1 -h.uvl, and Mr Johnstone ini<wd the boots, produced. I identify thetje boot-, and Mr John-tone's writing on them. I have not -old any bootj <>f the same class f>r some time since. That is all I mi -sod at tint tune. Tho fallowing d.iv I nn»Hud the \\ itch, and tin-, morning I united a ]> iii* of pint- 1 \.i!'»Mif 3(K I saw tho ac-ui-ed hanging .ib nit the <-tore on the 18th, In* did not puiiln-e anything. S.iw him k-t otit'-'do my '•tore as I was returning from posting 1» tt r- He n-ked me if I vi- g..ingh'>inc / toph.-d 'yes.' I know hiifithei ; he do.il- at mv utore'; I do not know hi- n i'iio ; he bought goods on tho 10th, and paid 7« 'id in copper and 4s in -ihoi. Mi Jolui-toiie called my attention to tho piyinent of 7s fid in copper as being unn-ual. Ch.nles J.unes Johnstone gate coiroboi.itue evidence. John Jfcivli-i Hopnsed, that he saw accu- 1 '! no.ir Mr Hill-, -toio botween ton and cloven o'clock on llio night of tho robbeiy. I Ferny V.ild«'i\ in clvtrge of Mr EUw's store at Oturohanga, deposed, that the pii-oner came to tho -ton* on the 19th, and paid for several articles in copper. Never law native* carry so much copper, ah thoy getioi.dly tiko mattlip- in change rather than pence. Prisoner had a new Waltham w atcli, .vnd appe nvd to be confuted when askod where ho got it. Prisoner told him he had collected the money for the race 3. Willi.un Jones, constable, stationed at Alexandra, depo-od : About H o'clock a in. on the inoining of the l'.Hh fnv-t., I received information from Mr John&tone of Mr Hill's store being entered and robbed. Subsequently I proceeded to Otorohanga, and saw tho last witness thore. From what I heaid theie, I wont to Hnngatiki and met the pri-oner. I arrested him and told him tho charge. He said lie was not guilty. He we it to aw liar;, wher» I found the boots (produced) by the side of tho door. To the Com t: The chain and coins produced he was wearing, but no watch. He changed his tromers then, saying they belonged to another nati\ o. I did not search him until we arrived in Alexandra. Ho had plenty of oppoi tuuity to get rid of a watch or coppers, as it was very dusty along the road ; ho was frequently invisible Prisoner, being duly warned, Rtated : When I came from Ruahilii I asked R<mrou for some money. He gave me £3. I then came to Alexandra and went to Hill's store. I asked Mr Johnstone if he had any boots. He said yes, and brought me some I asked the price of a pair, no. 7. He «aid 18s (id. I asked for credit and he refu-ed, then I paid him the 18s, and received the boots Ye?, these are the boots. Prisoner then called bib father, John Wairen, who answered the prisoner's questions as follows : — When you arrived at my place you trave me 14s. I do not know if it was on Monday. It was the day you came for the horse. Jdo not know if it was 4s in coppers you gave me. I a^ked you where you got the money from. You said the money was collected for the laces,. To Inspector Kiely : I had not seen the accused for upw.iida of ,i month previously, f-fe is a son of mine. Hu is not married. Ho is, 17 years of age. He came when we wete in b j d. I do not know the day oi time. He left next morning with some hoi ses for Hang itiki. Inspector Ivielv he had got a very good character of tho witness,, but as he had been cilled for the defence, it was his duty to ti-oss-e\amine him. Witness, to the court : I did not suspect anything wrong when he gave mo the iii'inoy, as ho had been aw.ty at work I thought. I went into Alexandra and bought flour, tea and sugar with it at Mr Hill's. The prisoner was then committed for tijal, being being allowed in two sureties) of £50 each.

The prisoner, a youth of 17 years of age, has no doubt fallen into temptation through the hui^e-raoing mania, which is in full swine: just now amongst the natives.— (Own Correspondent.)