CHARGE OF ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2629, 11 October 1909, Page 7

CHARGE OF ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

POLICE COURT PROCEEDINGS.

Thomas Mackay is a station cook who works at Honora, and when he stepped off the s.s. Flora cn to the Gisborne wharf on Friday afternoon he had 15s in his possession, but he straightway drew £4 on account of his cheque from Messrs Williams and Kettle, and having paid 26s for board and lodging went , out to enjoy himself and finished up in the police station minus all his ready cash. The sequel was heard in the Pohco Court on Saturday, when Thomas Shean, who wore a bandage round Ins head, and Ernest John Williams, were charged with having robbed Mackay of the sum of £2 and haying used personal violence towards him. Mr L. T. Bernard defended both t ie prisoners. Mackay related how he had gone on the "drink, and said he ing in the Turanganui jHotel about 7.20 p.m. and having a drink there. Some time before 8 o’clock, he loft, having as far as he could remmeber about £2 in his jiocket. Outside the hotel he got into the company of two men, whom, however, he could not identify. He had,- however, a hazy recollection of having seen the accused Shoan somewhere about the hotel. He went with the men to the bade of the Harboi Board’s goods shed, and the next thing he knew was that someone had put a strangle-hold on him, while . another emptied the pocket he kept his money in. Mackay then called for help, but could not recollect anyone coining to his assistance. He lost his cap, which was the one produced in Court. Mackay related how he was subsequently arrested for drunkenness. At the Police Station he saw several men, among whom he recognised Shean as a man he had seen near the hotel. Mr Barnard: As soon as you got the money from Williams and Kettle you went on the bust at once? Yes. By. seven o’clock then you didn t know very well what was going on about you? . . His Worship : I think that is pretty obvious. Mr Barnard : Do you remember scattering some money for sonrn children outside the Turanganui Hotel?—-Yes. How many men did the police line up for identification at the station?I couldn’t say. His Worship: Were there more than two?—l wouldn’t say. Mr Buraard: You say you met two men outside the hotel. Did you really see two, or did you see one and think it was two? —1 fancy I saw two. (Laughter.) George Wotton, aged 14, a schoolboy, stated "that at seven o’clock lie was with a friend fishing on the wharf m front of the Harbor store shed when he saw Mackay coming along in company .with two men. One of the men he identified as Shean by the bandage round his head, but the other, who was carrying two fish, he didn’t know. The other man wore dark clothes and a dark slouch hat. The witness heard Mackay ask where they were going, and the men pointed to’ behind the store yard. The three passed out of sight and a little while afterwards he heard Mackay call out “Bruce! Bruce!” several times, and saw him run towards the hotel. This would be about 7.30, or a quarter to eight. About nine o’clock the witness went to the Police Station, where he recognised Mackay and Shean. Desmond Lawless, aged 12, who was in company with the boy Wotton, gave corroborative evidence. George McLoughlin, night-watchman, stated that he saw Mackay at 7.30 near the Turanganui Hotel with some boys round him. About twenty minutes later he saw him coming from the Harbor Board sheds in an excited and dishevelled condition. His cap was gone and one of hie pockets turned inside out, and he said he had been robbed. Joseph Waddington, barman at the Turanganui, said he remembered Mackay coming in at about a quarter past seven to change half a sovereign and some silver saying he wanted to give some money to the boys. The witness gave him ten shillings and eight threepenny bits, and he then went out. Detective Sidney Rawle deposed that about 8 o’clock last night he went along the railway line on the wharf with Constable Scott, Capt. Martin, and the witness McLaughlin. They found Mackay’s cap lying on the line. At 8.30 the witness with Constable Scott brought Shean and Williams from the Gisborne Hotel corner to the Police Station. Williams made a statement accounting for the way he had spent his time during the evening. When searched Williams had 4s lid on him and Shean 5s 6d. Constable Scott also gave evidence of £trros"fc« Mr Burnard asked for a remand to enable him to prepare his defence, and applied for bail stating that the accused were working men to whom loss of time was a hardship. Mr Barton granted a remand till Tuesday, but fixed the bail at £IOO personal recognisance and one surety of £IOO. Prior to the hearing of th-e charge of robbery, Mackay was fined 5s and 2s costs for drunkenness, vSergt. Hutton stating that be was a first offender.