From Western Post, 12 January 1861: POLICE Monday, January 7 Before the Police Magistrate and M H LYONS, Esq., J.P. W LAWLOR was charged with stealing a pair of trousers, the property of James MURRAY. Constable MILLER having received information that prisoner had on a pair of trousers which he had stolen, took him into custody; he said he bought them of a man in Mudgee. James MURRAY, residing in a tent on the bank of the river, said he saw the prisoner on Saturday morning near the tent. He claimed the trousers now in Court as his property; their value was about 25s. The last time he saw them was in his tent in the morning, and in the evening he saw them on the prisoner, when he gave him in charge. The prisoner was charged with a second offence, having taken from the same tent a belt belonging to a man of the name of John DAVIS. MILLER produced the belt, which he found in prisoner's possession. J DAVIS, mate to witness in former case, said on going to work he left the belt under his bed, and on returning to breakfast he found it was gone. A third charge was preferred for stealing a calf skin vest. MILLER proved the finding of the vest on prisoner, who said he had changed it with a man for one of his own. John DUNGANE claimed it was his property; he valued it at "3 bobs" and had "lost the run of it" on Thursday; when he was packing up his swag he missed it, and did not come across it again till the police spoke to him; had never changed with prisoner. The prisoner having been asked the usual question, elected that the Bench should decide the cases. Upon the application of the Chief Constable, who has a charge of horse stealing to prefer against prisoner, the Bench remanded him till Tuesday. ***END*** Annette Piper Please note: Although every effort has been made to transcribe the above correctly, errors may have been made. Spelling of names and places are as appears in original.