A TOO-GENEROUS STRANGER

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2095, 3 June 1907, Page 2

A TOO-GENEROUS STRANGER

GIVES A MAORI A HORSE-

COVER.

MA OR I CONVICTED OF THEFT.

Peta Kirilianga was charged at the Police Court on Saturday with stealing a horse cover, valued at £l, the property of Charles Wallace bailweather, of Waerenga-o-kuri. Accucsd pleaded not’ guilty. Sergeant Williams conducted the prosecution and called Fail-weather a station manager, who stated that he put the cover on the horse on 26th May arid left the animal in a paddock near the'house. At daylight next morning lie noticed that tlie 'cover was missing. Attended tlio inquest at Waerenga-o-kuri as a witness on Friday and saw accused there with a cover on his horse. Identified tlie cover produced in court. Was with a constable at the time, and tho latter chaigcd him with the theft, whereupon he said, “You can have the cover back. How much to pay?” The cover was , on a fence and the constable took it away. Constable O’Hara deposed that he saw accused riding up to the hotel with the horse-cover strapped to his saddle. Went; with previous witness to where lie tied the liorso and Fairweather identified the article as his own. Asked accused where ho got the cover, and was told that ho met a man on the road who gave it to him and also- said lie could have tlio cover back. Arrested accused and brought him to town. Accused stated that when he came from his sister’s /place on Thursday evening, he met a man riding very, fast on tlie road and lie throw tlie cover on to him (accused). Ho called out to him to come back and take it. He did not want it. He took the cover with him so that he could give it to the owner if lie met him. He was found at Waerenga-o-kuri with •the cover and told the constable that he did not know to whom it belonged and that if lie knew the owner, he could take it.

His Worship described the theft as a very mean one, and people had frequent occasion to complain of like offences, and he considered iifc npepssary tq inflict 3 severe punishment. Accused would lie fined £lO, cost's £2 4s 6d, or. in default six weeks’ imprisonment in Napier" gaol. •