POLICE COURT.—Wednesday.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 386, 5 April 1871, Page 2

POLICE COURT.—Wednesday.

(Before A. Beetham and L. D. Nathan, Esqs.

Justices.)

Di.PNKi-NNiss. —J. Dunne and J. James were each fined ss. and costs for first offences, and VV. Costello, for a second offence fined 10s. and costs, with tho usual alternative.

Drunk: and Disorderly.—J. Brierly, for this offence, was fined 20s. and costs, or to be imprisoned 43 hours.

Neglected Children.—Johu Coffey and Earnest Coffey and Sarah Coffey wero brought, up as neglected children. On the evidence of Detective Ternahan, as to the father being in gaol, and the mother unable to support them, and the children being usually with bad characters, they weie sent to the Destitute Children's School for two years each.

Assault.—Tlie case of Cecilia Beck, charged by Ann Millor with liaving assaulted her, by striking her on the face with her fist, was dismissed for non-appearance of the parties. Horse Stealing.—James Hewsou Moore, alias James Moore, alias George Edward Bingland, alias McAlister, alias George Moore, wa3 charged with having, on October 1, stolen a horse, saddle, and bridle at Otahuhu, value £35.—-James Scott deposed : I am the son of John Scott, Mangere, farmer. On the 11th October last I rode into Otahuhu, and. left the horse in question at Wallace's, the blacksmith's. Went to the Hall, where a concert was held. On returning from the concert, between 12 and 1 o'clock, I found the horse gone, and the door shut. Could not find it anywhere. On going with my father to Matakohe, about the 24th October, to search for the horse, saw prisoner then riding the horse that had been stolen. Prisoner bolted, and we pursued him into the bush for two or three miles. My father returned to Mangere, and about a week after, the horse was restored. The saddle and bridle were also returned. Captain McKenzie brought the horse from Waipu iv. the Jessie. Would not swear that prisoner was the man seen riding the horse in the bush.—John Scott, father of last witness, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness. On arriving at Matakohe, saw the prisoner standing by the head of the stolen horse. A settler named Moulder was present. Said " Good day," and tried to catch the bridle. Prisoner leaped on the horse, and struck the spnrs into the sides of the animal, and bolted. The following day the horse was returned by a settler named Albert Shaw. The horse is now outside the Court. Tbe saddle and bridle produced were on the horse when stolen. Had inserted advertisements in the Herald aud C oss, and a settler from Whangarei told me that a horse answering the description had passed through that district. In consequence of this information, I went to Matakohe. — John Robert Lambert, a farmer residing at Matakohe, deposed : I was sworn in as special constable to arrest prisoner, on th a 22ud inst.; met prisoner in tho 'busl^ahd infonriedhim of tho charge. Prisoner said' he woulof-n'ot' go with me alive. 1 said, then you will have to come with me dead, for that I had sworn to bring.him. He. raised a.tomahawk over his head.tossi;rike.me,. dnd Ifired at.the .uplifted hand. He flung the tomahawk at my head, and knocked my hat off. With assistance I handcuffed him, and brought him to a gumdigger's" whare, and he refused to walk to the township. I was obliged to lash him on a horse, and brought him to the magistrate. He

stated that four months ago he had carried the saddle to a, colored man named Freeman, and requested him to send it to Mr. Scott, at Mangere. Prisoner had lived witb! ihe at Matakohe. I have his signature as George Edward Ringlaud.f He came to me, bringing a horse, saddle and bridle ; it is tho horse now outside the Court. He said he had bought the horse. After a few weeks after retiring from the township he stated that he had an important letter from the Waipu, and had to be there before night, aud left hurriedly. Half an hour after Mr. Scott and son's friends came to my place. He had had the horse all the time he was at my place.— The prisoner made a long and circumstantial statement of his having bought the horse, and then restored him on being informed that the horse -was a stolen one.—He was committed to take his trial at the Supreme Court.