TIMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 48, 4 September 1891, Page 18

TIMARU.

(From an occasional Correspondent.)

August 31, 1891. On Tuesday, 25th, the members of the Aloyßian Catholic Union gave us a treat in the school-room, which took the form of " Trial by Jury,' Mr Duval taking the poat of judge, Mr Thomas Kenny that of register, Mr Coghlan, tipstaff ; Mr Dennehy, counsel for the prosecution ; and Mr Corcoran, counßel for the defence. Mr Charles Niall acted the part of defendant, under the cognomen of Collorum Nipp, and Mr James Collins that of plaintiff as Jonathan Spooner. At 8 o'clock hi 9 Honour the Judge took hiß seat upon the bench, the crier made the usual announcement, having previously called upon the public for silence by jumping up the wand and stamping emphatically, after which Mr Begister called the jury roll, who were duly Bworn in "So help me bob." Mr Counsellor Dennehy and Mr Counsellor Corcoran caused much amusement by the challenging, Mr Dennehy allowing them to place their foot upon the step of the jury box and calling " stand down." The jury having elected Mr McMonagle as foreman, Mr Counsellor Dennehy arose and stated that on the 23rd of April, one thousand eight hundred and ninetyone, Collorum Nipp did feloniously steal, take, and carry away a silver watch and a gold chain and a pendent, the property of Jonathan Spooner, againßt the peace of her Majesty the Queen, her crown and dignity. Jonathan Spooner, defendant, having been called, deposed : I am a labourer, residing in Timaru. The watch produced is mine and was taken from my vest pocket in Mr Gingerbread's Retreat on the morning of the 23rd April, along with a letter which I had wiitten to my sweetheart, Miss Angelina Pensive. Counsellor Dennehy read the letter, which ran thus — " Gingerbread's Retreat, " Wednesday evening, 22nd April, 1891. " My Dearest and Beautiful Angelina. " What is up ? Are you ill, or has anything happened to turn your affections from your loving and devoted Spooner 1 Oh ! Angelina, the misery I have suffered through you not keeping your appointment with me last evening. All night long I tossed on my weary pillow, listening to the wild beatings of my heart and thinking what could be amiss with my beautiful, bright-eyed, rosy-lipped Angelina. Can anything have happened to dim those bright eyes or take the hue from those rosy lips ? Dearest, lam in supreme agony since I heard of your extraordinary taste for black currant jam. It will take the hue of the roses from your lips and blacken your snowy teeth, and it is with horror that I contemplate such a calamity befalling your pearly nut-crackers. Oh I Angelina, let me know at once. Do not keep me in suspence. Restore me to my appetite and your affections. Let beef-steak for breakfast and your company in the evening have the same charm for me once more as they used to have in the happy days gone by. If you are ill, I will pray earnestly for your recovery, and I will send you with this note

a bottle of Mother Seigel'i syrup. Think, dearest, of the old adage— " Trust in God, but keep your powder dry." So join me in prayer, bat don't forget the syrup. Good-bye, sweet, till to-morrow evening. " I composed a small ditty about yon— the spontaneous gnshinga of a devoted heart— which I hope will please you, and which yon mast sing for me. Don't forget to-morrow evening at the usual place, and there yon will find bound by the sweet chains of your lovely and multitudinous charms, " Your loving and devoted " Spooner. "linto to angelina. " The voice of my dear Angelina Is like a sweet-toned concertina, When she goes up the scale to the top My heart goes pititty pop. " The face of my darling is nice, And fairer than any I see, Though a terror on currie and rice And an artist on afternoon tea. " She's as fair as the roses in summer, The pride and the joy of my life, At dancing a ' legular drummer,' 'Tia she'll make the nice little wife. " Spooner." Mr Eggsandbacon (Mr Stapleton) deposed.— l am a boardinghouse keeper, reßidiDg in Timaru, I know the prisoner. He came to board at my house on the ( 2ad of April. He paid for a week's board. On the morning of the 23rd I demanded a fortnight's board which he theo owed me. He seemed annoyed at my demand and be said he would write to his uncle, in Cbristchurch, for the money, as he had none, and then he went upstairs. Mr Spooner's bedroom is over the dining-room, and when at my breakfast I heard someone moving in it. This was about 830 a.m. Going upstairs, 1 found the prisoner in Spooner's bedroom, with Spooner's vest in bis hand I asked him what he was doing, and he said he was looking for m itches. I told him to leave the room and to keep to his own room for the future. I informed Spooner when he came home, and he, Spooner, went upstairs, and returning in a few minutes, told me his pockets bad been rifled, and that his watch and chain and pendant, and also a letter which he said he would not like anybody to sac. He asked me to go with him to the police station. I did so, and we informed Deteciive Coppam of themattar. Collorum Nipp left the house about 9 o'clock and 1 next saw him at the Police Station about 6 p.m that evening. He slept in the room at the other end of the passage from that in which Spoooer slept. Detective Simon Obadiah Coppam (J. Wallay), deposed — I am a detective, residing in Timaru. I remember the 23rd of April. Shortly after 12 o'clock Mr Spooner and Mr Gingerbread came and told me that Spooner's watch, chain, and pendant, and also a letter, was stolen from Mr. Gingerbread's. I got the number of the watch (92018), aud the maker (G. and T. Youna), from Mr. Spooner, and enquiring of Mr. Graball Shylock, the pawnbroker, I learnt that the watch, chain, and pendant, in Court, were passed that morning with him by a young man, who gave the name of Tobias Nutt. From his description I made enquiries, and went to the express train at 5 o'clock, and saw Mr* Nipp come on the station and buy a ticket for Christen urch. I waited until he got on the train, and then arrested him on the charge of stealing Mr. Spooner's watch. He said, " It's all up. Curse my luck I How soon he found out 1 I'm done for at last." I took him to the Police Station, and with Constable Boosey I searched him, and found on him 2g 6d in silver, a letter, acd a second-class ticket to Christchurch. The letter in Court is the one found on prisoner. I sent for Mr. Graball Shylock, Mr. Gingerbread, and Mr. Spooner. Spooner recognised the property as his. Shylock recognised Nipp as the man that pawned them, and Spooner and Gingerbread saw the prisoner. Mark Boosey (D. Kelly) deposed — I am a policeman, stationed at Timaru. I remember Detective Coppam bringing the prisoner. I assisted in searching him. We found a letter . The letter in Court is the one, also 2s 6d in silver, and a second-class railway ticket to Christchurch. Mr Graball Shylock (M. Crannitch), deposed. I am a licensed pawnbroker residing at Timaru. I know tha prisoner. He came to my shop on the 23rd of April, and pawned a silver wa'ch (No 92018). The maker's name was G. aud T. Young. I asked him if the watch was his. He wanted £8 on it. I refused and agreed to him £5. I gave him five single notes. The prisoner cams to the shop about 9.30 a.m. Detective Coppam came about 7p m. the sama day and asked me if anyone had pawned a watch. He gave me the correct description and I handed over the watch to him. I next saw Mr Nipps in the evening at the Police Station and recognised him at once. Job. S-lverspoon (F. Niall) deposed — I am manager for G. and T. Toung in their branch bjsinesa in ritnaru, I know Mr Spooner. I sold him the watch. The entry of the sale is in my books. The original entry is the one produced. I swear positively it is the watch I sold to Jonathan Spooner.

Tarantara Olioker (B . Rogers) deposed — lam the prisoner's uncle and a matchbox manufacturer residing at Ohristchnrch. The prisoner used to live with me and worked for me occasionally. He was wild and extravagant and wotked only when he liked . As I conld do nothing with him I sent him to Timaru on the 2nd of April last, thinking a change might steady him. I did not think he waa very honest when with me. I received a letter from him on the 22nd of April last. The letter produced is the one. It is his handwriting. When leaving I told him I did not want to see his face again until he reformed and proved himself anxious to get on in the world. Mr Collorum Nipp (B Niallj examined by Counsellor Corcoran depostd,— l am a labourer, residing at Timaru. I was authorised by Mr Spooner to take his watch and pawn it ; and to meet him at the Post Office at 12 o'clock. He said he wanted the money to bay a bracelet for a young lady named Angelina Pensive both of us were after this young lady , bat I think I stood in her good graces better than he did. He told me he could not give me the watch just then but in the morning when he was away I could go and get it out of waistcoat, and if I was disturbed when getting it I was to say I was looking for matches, and he then asked me to shake hands on the word of a man not to tell the secret between us to anyone, and afterward he asked me to h ave a cigarette, but I declined, and then I left the room. Mr Savage Bombast (Denis Wren) : I am a night watchman at Mr Gingerbread's. I was in my room in Mr Spooner 's on the 23 rd of April. I heard a conversation between Mr Spooner and Mr Nipp. Mr Spooner asked Mr Nipp to pawn his watch, chain, and pendant on the following day, as he was badly stuck for money, He told him to get at least £5, He told him not to pawn it in his own name and to meet him at the Post Office at 12 o'clock. He did not give him the watch, but told him to come into his room in the morning and to get it out of his vest pocket, and if anybody should see him there to say he was getting some matches. I swear positively it was them, as I know their voices. Mr Vatch Golden (Denis Shea) deposed : I am a jeweller, residing in Timaru. I remember the 23rd day of April. I sold Mr Spooner a bracelet. Ths bracelet in court is the one. I know it by my name and address. It is the only one of the kind in Timaru. I sold it to Mr Spooner between twelve and one o'clock mid-day. He gave me £4 15s for it in single £1 notes. I gava him 5s change. He told me he wanted it for a birthday present. I knew Mr Spooner sometime. I never sold him anything before. Mr Atlaß Bigwillie (J. Quirk) deposed : I am manager of W; Evans and Co's flour mills. I know the accused very well. I Know him to be a most respectable young man. He asked me for employment. I promised him employment at the first opportunity. Mr Spooner has been some months in my employ. He has not been giving satisfaction lately. I had to speak to him on several occasions lately. Otherwise, I bave nothing to Bay against Mr Spooner further than I fear he is given to drink at times, Adolphus Postogram (P. Cairns) deposed — I am postmaster at Timaru. I remember the morning of the 23rd April, 1891, I cashed a Post Office Order for Mr Collorum Nipp for £5 in accordance with the advices I received from Bangiora. The Post Office Order was from Mrs Stepbanotice Nipp, and payable to Mr Collorum Nipp. I also delivered a letter to Mr Nipp before this which he opened in my presence, and handed me the order which I cashed. This was about 9 o'clock. Julius Vogel (Lawrence Tracey), stock broker, I reside in Timaru. I remember the 23rd of April. I know Mr Spooner and Mr Nipp. The last time I saw these two gentlemen together it was at a few minutes pact 12 o'clock on the 23rd of April at the Post Office. I saw the two speaking together as I came out of the Post Office. Mr Nipp appeared to be giving something to Mr Spooner. I could not say for certain what it was, but it looked like notes. I was quite close to them. At the conclusion of the evidence Mr Counsellor Corcoran very eloquently addressed the jury on behalf ol the prisoner, after which Mr Dennehy arose for the prosecution. His honour Mr Justice Duval charged the jury impartially, and the jury retired for some time, and returning announced their verdict •' Not Guilty," and the prisoner, Collorum Nipp, was discharged without a stain upon his character.