From Western Post & Mudgee Guardian, 4 September 1861 POLICE COURT Tuesday Sept 3 Before the Police Magistrate, his Worship the Mayor, T CADELL and E MARLAY, Esqrs. Alfred JACKSON, charged with stealing a pocket book. Mr BRODRIBB appeared for prisoner. Constable MILLER said that the prisoner was given into his custody yesterday, for stealing a book containing £14, from the house of Thomas MILLS; upon telling him the charge he said that he was not guilty, and that he would not go to the lock-up. He then offered him and the other constable a pound each if they would say nothing about it. Thomas Edward MILLS, of the Royal Oak, stated that about two o'clock a lodger informed him that he missed a pocket book, which he had placed behind the bar. He immediately asked JACKSON if he knew anything about it; he replied "No". He then made search, found it under a dray in the yard, and took it to Mr PLAYER, who claimed it as the one he had lost. Upon examination, it was found that the money was gone. He said to JACKSON "You are my prisoner until the arrival of the police". Whilst ascertaining from PLAYER the amount of his loss JACKSON contr! ived to slip out; he followed and requested him to return; upon his refusing to do so, he (MILLS) knocked him down with a small iron bar he had in has in hand. Mrs MILLS then informed him that the servant had just told her that she had given the book to prisoner at his request. Prisoner exclaimed with an oath "Yes, I did not take it, it was given to me". At this stage of the proceeding prisoner requested to be allowed to sit down, as he felt very weak from the effect of the blow Mr MILLS had given him and the scuffle there was to take him to the lockup. Prisoner gave PLAYER £4 saying there is your money, say no more about it. Prosecutor asked him for two five pound notes; he said if he had them he would have returned them, or that he would borrow the amount rather than there should be any loss. Thomas PLAYER, cattle dealer, of Emu Plains, was at present residing at the Royal Hotel. Prisoner was there on Thursday; he did not know much about the "gentleman". He paid ! a jockey chap of the name of "Billy the Weasel" £10 and invited prisoner to have a glass; after paying for the drink, he placed his pocket book on a shelf inside the bar, and went to speak to Mr MILLS. The only person in the bar with himself, the bar girl, and prisoner. About two minutes after he returned for his pocket book and found that it was gone. He stated his loss to MILLS, who went out for JACKSON, and later returned with the pocket book. Upon examining it he found that the notes were gone. After some little conversation JACKSON ran out of the house; MILLS stopped him; he then threw down four notes saying "There, that is all the money belonging to you". He had not received the two five pound notes; he was not tipsy at the time. He handed the pocket book and four notes to the constable. Ellen MOORE, bar maid, said she was called out of the bar by the prisoner, who asked her to give him the pocket-book which was amongst the bottles; she complied with his request! , thinking that it belonged to him, and that he did not like to go behind the bar for it himself. She afterwards informed Mrs MILLS of the circumstance. Mr BRODRIBB submitted that there was no larceny proved and that no false representation was made by his client. The Bench said there was ample evidence for a jury, and committed prisoner. Later in the day JACKSON was again put in the dock upon a charge of severely assaulting constable MILLER for which he was sentenced to one month's imprisonment. ***END*** N.B. All care has been taken to transcribe the above accurately, however errors may have been inadvertently made. Spelling of names/places should be as appears in original. Transcribed from microfilm available from the State Library. Annette Piper Coolah NSW