THEFT OF A HORSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1869, 26 September 1906, Page 3

THEFT OF A HORSE.

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr Burton, S M. D. Grant McEwun was charged with stealing a horse, saddle and bridle, the property of Dr. Morrison. Detective Maddern prosecuted and Mr Alston Coleman appeared for the defendant Dr. Morrison stated that accused was introduced to him by Mr DoCosta, representative of tho AM.P. Society iu Gisborne, as a new agent for the Society. Witness was one of the examiners for the Society. H DeCosta stated that accused was desirous of going to the country, but had not the means of travelling, and asked if witness would back a bill for accused for the sum of £2O or £25 Accused wished to buy a horse 1 saddle and bridle from J, Stoddart, insurance agent, for £l4 Witness refused, saying ho did not care to lend £2O to a man he did not know, but would buy the horse, saddle and bricllc t

nnd loiul them to accused to go awa; [ with, together with -to. Witness bough the horse mul paid tor it by cheque, tin horse being handed oyer to licensed Nothing moi’o wmi said us regards tin tonus. Witness iliil not niithorisi: noousod to soil the hoi'so. lie did not sue accused lignin until that; day. Witness reported the limiter to Ihe police, from whom lie had since received the horse, saddle and bridle.

lly Mr Coleman: I>e('osta was to enter into an agreement Lliat it there was any loss on the transaetion he was to bear hair. Witness bought the horse in preferenee to backing a bill, .lie did not remember saying to accused that if he had a lnek.y trip he could pay for the horse when he returned. By till' Jhirton : Ho was ipiite clear

that he simply lent tho horse to Me Ewan and that lie had no authority to sell it. U. H. DoUosta gavo oarroho.ativu ovidonco By Mr Coleman : S'oidart was g dug to make out tho reoeipt in aroused'H name, hut Dr Morrison said ho w.mtid ;hu horse as a:enrily end hid tho receipt mado out in his own name. J. Stoddart, insurance agont, gave ovi donoo ns to tho pui chase of tho horso. Dr Morrison banded witness a ohiquo nud a c ked him to make tha roeoipt out in his nemo and not in uoousod’s, but gavo no reason for this, By Mr Ooleuian : Tho dootor said he

hoped that accused would bo able to pay him for the horso when ho cimo hack from tho Coast, Aecusod told witness that ho had got tho money from tho doctor as n loan. J. J. Fry, travelling representative for Messrs Common, Blulson nud Co , statod that ho saw accused in Tolago on Mivch

17th. Jamieson, a hotol keeper, was going to take a horse from accused, | but witness asked him not to lcavo tbe man stranded there, and to let accused ride tho horso down to Gisborne and hand it over to witness. Aceusod rolo to Gisborne with witness and handed over the horso on arrival. Accused arranged to moet witness next morning and pay him the £5 owing to Jamioson, but ho did not do so. Witness was present whon aooused sold the saddle and bridle lo Olatk, of the British Empire stables. By Mr Coleman : Accused represented himaolf as owner cf tho horso.

A. Clark stated that ho pu chased a saddle aud bridle ft ora a man named MeEwan, who oame with J. J, Fry on March 21st. Ho could not recogniso acoused as tho man after so long, aud could not identify tho saddle. This conoludad the caso for the prosecution. Mr Cjleman said he had no ooso to answer, as tho witnfstes had foiled to prove tho identity of the horso and saddle mentioned with those alleged to be atoloD.

Mr Barton said ho was satisfied there was a prirna faoiecase. Acoused pleaded not guilty, aud was committed for trial at tho next Bitting of the Supremo Court ot Gisborne, bail being allowed on acoused’e own reoognisanon for £SO and two sureties of £SO each.