Saturday, March 11th, 1882.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1060, 13 March 1882, Page 2

Saturday, March 11th, 1882.

COUNSELLING A MISDEMEANOR.

William Brown was charged that he did, between the 28th and 30th of August last, incite one Silas Gibson to commit an indictable offence, viz.: to cut away a punt, the property ef Mr. Archer, at the Inangahua landing. Mr Lynch appeared for the prisoner.

Silas Gibson, who had been committed for trial on the previous day. was called, and before, being sworn objected to giving any evidence that would criminate himself. The Magistrate directed him to be sworn, but he intimated that he need not answer any questions that would criminate himself.

He said that on the 28th he was living with prisoner at Tait's, on the Inangahua. He did not know whether there was a flood or not on that day. Prisoner toldl him that he had built the punt for aMr Langdon. Witness was not at the landing on the evening of the 29th, and Brown did not say anything to him to go the Landing on the 28th or 29th of August Mrs McMurray first acquainted witness with the fact that the jpunis had been cut away, and she told him and Brown that it had been. They, were at McMurray's in company, anc{ subsequently were

employed by Mr Archer to get the punt back. Brown was sent for to go down to the punt, and witness went down with him. Witness and Brown had been sawing together at Gallaghers. They went to Boatmans and got a con tract for catting the timber for the state school He worked with the accused on up to Christmas. There no was money due to witness when Gallagher's job was completed. Brown had always settled up with him as they went along. He worked four or five days at the punt for Archer and after that with Brown finished Gallagher's job. They worked at the sawpit on the 28th and 29th. He saw the cut ropes of the punt, but could not say how they were | cut He did not know much about I cutting ropes, but these seemed as though they had been cut with someI thing stronger than a knife. Prisoner never counseled him to do anything to injure Mr Archer or to cut the punt adrift Brown owed him no money whatever and was not indebted in any way him. I Sergeant Neville said that was all ! the evidence he could bring forward in S the case. The Magistrate at once discharged the prisoner. The Court then adjourned.