Transcribed by Susan Bergeron. Geo. The Carlisle Patriot Friday, February 13, 1880 Police Courts Whitehaven Whitehaven Monday. (Before H. JEFFERSON, Esq., and other Magistrates.) A novel Offence. Thomas McCLEARY, a Whitehaven rough, pretty well know to the police, was brought up in custody charged with stealing wreck. P. C. GUNN said he saw the prisoner carrying a bag, which he threw into a passage when he saw witness. He apprehended him, and opened the bag, which he found contained a cow's hide. Prisoner at first said he knew nothing about it, but shortly afterwards he said the cow washed ashore at Saltom Bay, and they went out through the night and skinned it, and took the hide away. Prisoner said he took the hide off the beach; that was all he had to say. In answer to questions, the constable said the cow had been lying on the beach since Friday last, and that the value of the hide was 8s. Mr. BROCKBANK explained to the Bench that the offence was under the Consolidation of Larcenies Act, not the Merchant Shipping Act; and he read the section bearing on it, from which it appeared that the magistrates could punish with not more than six months imprisonment, or a fine not exceeding 20. Prisoner was fined 20s, or in default 14 days imprisonment. .....