From Western Post 12 January 1861 Tuesday, January 8 Before the Police Magistrate, E MARLAY and M H LYONS, Esqrs., J.P.'s. W LAWLOR was put into the dock and sentenced to four months hard labour in Bathurst gaol for the three offences of which he was found guilty on Monday, each to commence at the termination of the previous one. At the request of the Chief Constable prisoner was remanded a week to enable him to prefer a case of horse stealing. M'IVOR was charged with obtaining money under false pretences. MacBETH, lock-up keeper, said the prisoner was given into his custody on Satruday by one of the Hartley police, who had him in charge on a warrant signed by Captain BROWNE in the year 1859. Prisoner said he knew nothing about the charge; he could neither read nor write, and had been a long time detained in prison. The Chief Constable requested a week's remand in order to find witnesses. The prisoner had just left Bathurst gaol, where he had been 18 months for three distinct charges of forgery committed in Bathurst. Johnny ICE, a Chinaman in the employ of G H COX, Esq., was charged with destroying a quantity of wearing apparel. Annie KILSBY said she was servant to Mrs. COX. The clothes in Court were hanging up in her room; finding they were injured she showed them to Mrs. COX, and afterwards put them into her box; a day or two after she found them all wet and burnt. The Chinaman - who had charge of the house on New Year's day showed her a little bottle containing what he called scent, with which he burnt his finger. He afterwards told her he had destroyed her clothes. Mr G H COX said both parties were in his employ. They occasionally quarreled. The family were all absent on New Year's Day; on the following day the clothes were found destroyed, evidently by an acid. He consequently took a portion of the dress to Mr. BARNES, the chemist, who confirmed his opinion. Mr S H BARNES had no hesitation in saying that the dress was destroyed by nitric acid. Recollected prisoner purchasing some on the 23rd December for the purpose, as he said, of cleaning articles in his kitchen. Johnny upon being asked what he had to say, indignantly denied the charge, and said it was a ruse to get rid of him; he no did it, - she, Annie, saw him drink all stuff what was in bottle; how then could he burn dress with it? No you need not "tink" Chinaman so big fool as to drink what would spoil dress; me do drink poison; if it hurt girl's dress it hut me - me drink it yet. TheBench said that there was no doubt he had done it, but as there was no direct evidence they were obliged to dismiss the case. John GARBUTT was summoned at the instance of S NEWTON for an assault, which being proved, defendant was fined £5 less costs. Peter ROGERS not appearing to answer a complaint preferred by Nicholas BREWER for having seriously wounded him with a pitchfork, a warrant was issued for his apprehension. ***END*** Annette Piper Please note: Although every effort has been made to transcribe the above correctly, errors may have inadvertently been made. Spelling of names/places as in original.