Mr Joynt said, that: this. Was' the caso for the defence. ' y His, Honop .^aid.jhe did nofc see tho use of the Crown .Prosecutor going further with the case, as ifc would be a mere waste of time. The evidence of O'Neill and Burke- did not hold sufficiently together. The jUry must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that at was tho band of the. prisoner (with an jtlron ba*) ! Hittt.'ib'mc't , efl-fchafc : Wo«hd\ ? ~' r '"'' Mr Duncan said; that after this expression bf his 'Honor's opinion- He - would not proceed further with the case. The jury expressed a similar view to that stated by his Honor, and returned a verdict of "Not Guilty." , :;■;' His Honor said that ' the evidence went to show that the prisoner, was a .peaceable .man, and- that the k'pro&ecutor was in truth the aggressor*. ■'■T •:. '.':'■■'■' k.-i YYY ; Tho prisoner was then discharged. The Court then adjourned until ten o'clock next morning. ■'._ This Day. His Honor took his seat on the bench afc 10 o'clock. HOtTSE BREAKING. Charles Henry Matthews was placed at the bar, charged with having, pa the 30th August last, feloniously broken and entered the shop of Thomas Preece, Cashel street, wifch intent to commit a robbery. The prisoner pleaded " Not guilty." Mr James Patterson was chosen foreman of fche jury. Harry Feast deposed : I am a detective in Christchurch. From information I received about the 30th August last, I went in search ©f tbe prisoner, from a description received. I met fcho prisoner on fche North Town Belt. I told him he was charged with entering Mr Preece's store on the night of tho 30th August by means of a skeleton key. He said he was down tho yard having a look round, and he thought he might get into some trouble over ifc. I produce a skeleton key ; I got ifc from Mr Thomas Charles Preece. I tried the office door at the north end of tho store, and found that the skeleton key opened it. Thomas Charles Preece : lam 2lerk to ray' father. He has a shop situated in Cashel :

street, Christchurch. T was there on the 30th of August last. There' is a right-of-way leading from Cashel street into the yai*ds. 