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in £50. No previous convictions known. Plea, guilty. Convicted. Put on probation for three months. 9/10/01, 4 p.m., Arthur Bernard Walker and Henry James Howard. On the 4th day of October, 1901, did steal 2 pair of gum-boots, value £2, the property of William Newport, of Nelson. Arrested by F. H. Durbridge, Constable. No previous convictions known. Plea, guilty. Convicted. Put on probation for three months. E. Mackay, Sergeant.

New Zealand Police. — Charge Sheet. — Cases for hearing at Courthouse, Nelson, on the 16th day of October, 1901. 9/10/01, Arthur Bernard Walker and Henry James Howard. On the sth October, 1901, did steal one dog, value £2, the property of Frederick William Haase, of Nelson. Arrested by T. S. C. Kemp, Constable. Bailed out 12/10/01. Two sureties of £25 each, himself in £50. No previous convictions known. Plea, guilty. Convicted, Put on probation for six months. E. Mackay, Sergeant.

Police-station, Nelson, 7th November, 1901. Report of Sergeant E. Mackay, No. 210, re letter of 19th October from B. Walker, and Allegations contained therein. I beg to state that in consequence of F. W. Haase reporting the loss of his dog, I detailed Constables Kemp and Durbridge to investigate the matter, the result being they learnt of numerous other thefts which had not been reported to the police, and that the suspects, two youths, were camped in the Maungatapu Eanges. I instructed the two constables to proceed to the Maungatapu Eanges and endeavour to find their camp. The constables started at 3 p.m. on the 7th ultimo, returning on the evening of the Bth, and informed me that one of the suspects (Howard) was in town. I instructed them to bring him to the station, which they did at 11 p.m. same evening. I asked Howard if he was camped in the Maungatapu Eanges. He replied, " Yes, Walker and I are." I said, "Do you know anything about the hams that were stolen from Wilkie and Co.'s?" He replied, " Walker and I stole the hams, and also a bridle and martingale from Wilkie's. We also stole Haase's dog." I asked, " Have you stolen anything else ? " He answered in the affirmative, and enumerated the offences entered in the attached charge-sheet. I inquired off him the distance to his camp. He said, "About thirty miles; you will not find it unless you are shown," and said " I don't mind taking you to it. If you go you will have to start very early in the morning." I instructed the two constables to be in readiness to go with Howard at an early hour. I drove them to the foot of the Maungatapu between 5 and 6 the following morning, 9th ultimo. On the afternoon of the 10th ultimo I drove to the foot of the Maungatapu, and awaited the arrival of the constables with their prisoners. They arrived, each constable carrying a heavy swag, and the two prisoners a very light one. The prisoners and property were conveyed to the police-station. The prisoners were searched by Constable Burrell in the presence of myself, Kemp, and Durbridge. They were that night placed in the cell at the police-station. The following morning, 11th ultimo, they were brought before the Court and charged with the theft of two hams and a bridle and martingale from Wilkie and Cos. They pleaded guilty, and sentence was deferred to 16th ultimo, as many other charges were pending. Bail was allowed. Howard accepted it. Walker refused bail; said he was better off where he was. On the 12th ultimo Walker accepted bail. After being bailed he asked to be allowed to stay with the single men; that if his request was granted he would show a track by which pack-horses could be taken within close proximity of the camp. I decided to leave the matter in the hands of the single men, I knowing that it would save a considerable amount of expense and loss of time if we could get horses to where the camp was. On the 13th ultimo, at 3 a.m., the two constables, with Walker and two pack-horses, started for the camp, and returned with the two pack-horses laden with stolen property on the 14th. Neither of the accused made any complaint to me ; on the contrary, they told me they were well treated by the constables. They had no marks whatever on either of them, nor skin off. Had there been skin off Walker's wrist I must have seen it, as I examined his hands and arms when taking his description. Had there been any marks about his face or neck I would certainly have noticed it. As regards the allegation that I asked him to plead guilty, it is a deliberate and wilful falsehood, as there was no necessity for my doing so, as Howard had made a full confession prior to Walker's arrest, and the fact of the prisoner being in possession of the stolen property when arrested. As regards the allegation that he had bought some of the property and asked me to see what he had bought is untrue. The only articles detained by the police are those enumerated in Constable Kemp's report, to which the accused pleaded guilty, when read from the information in Court, the accused at the time being carefully warned by his solicitor to listen attentively to the information being read, and to plead not guilty to anything therein that he did not steal. Hereto I attach receipts from the different victims of accused's thefts. As to Walker having the sympathy of the whole of Nelson, it is not likely any sneak-thief would gain the sympathy of any respectable community. The only persons who appear to sympathize with him, and interest themselves on his behalf are the Trasks (butchers) of this town, who, it is rumoured, are related to Walker. I may say that after the offender had been sentenced he entered the employ of Trask (butcher), and came to this station in company with E. E. Trask, who demanded the stolen property, offering me a pound for it. I told Trask if he wanted the stolen property he had better go and see the owners.