Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1870.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 871, 19 November 1870, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1870.

The preliminary shooting for the selection of men to represent the Napier Rifle Volunteers at the forthcoming colonial prize firing will take place on Monday morniag, commencing at six o'clock.

Efforts, we hear, are being made by Capt. Robinson, N.R.V., (who has on all occasions manifested the greatest interest in volunteer matters generally), %<\ have a cadet corps formed in connection with the Napier Rifle Volunteers, and it }s to be hoped he will succeed, of whicji, indeed, there can be little doubt jf the sanction of the Government to its formation can, be obtained.

Kesident Magistrate's Court. — Yesterday, after the other, business of court, the case of Kirkpatrick v. FQQett was decided. The claim, was one p£ damages for- injury done to a horse sirougti the carelessness of defendant, which tbe animal ran one of the teeth of a harrow into its foot. Mr Redman appeared for the plaintiff, and ]\lr Lee for the defendant, Tn defence {t was urged that the injury was not result of any fault of the defendant. —Judgment for <£4 damages and £3 \X& costs. M'Kinnoih V. Wwgan.— in this, case was given this jaorniflg i™ plaintiff for full amount sasnect (£2O), arid $1 3s costs, We

are unable to publish, the e\ idence today> Patrick Gill was fined 5s for drunkenness, and 6s cab hire. George Mills was brought up on remand, charged with having, on the 11th November, stolen from David Joll one saddle, bridle, and pair of boots. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. David Joll deposed that he was a settler residing at HaveJock, and employed on the Te Aute road; that he was in the habit ofj leaving his house locked up on Monday mornings, and not returning again until Saturday evenings. Knew the prisoner, who resided at Mr Reynold's Hotel, Havelock, in consequence of his having for some time worked for his cousin, Mr John Joll, He left his property safe on Monday the 7th, and returning on Saturday the 12th, found that his house, had been entered, and misled a saddle. Mentioning his loss to Mr Bray, West Clive, the same day, he was informed that the prisoner had been trying to sell a saddle. In company with Mr Bray he went to Caldwell's Hotel, when they found prisoner, who, on being ques tioned about the saddle, said it was at Havelock. Prisoner then left the hotel, but was followed by witness, who overtook him on the other side of the Ngaruroro. After some parley prisoner drew the saddle out of his swag, saying that he had got it from a Maori in the 70-mile bush. Witness then again left him, and on returning with Mr Bray found him some distance further on the road, without the saddle. He denied that he ever had it, but after some persuasion, showed them where he had hidden it, in Mr Cuff's field of beans. Prisoner said it was the first thing he had ever taken, and that if they would overlook it, he would never take anything more. "Witness returned home with the saddle, and missed a bridle and a pair of booK Gave the prisoner in charge on Sunday, the 13th. Saddle produced in court and identified. A pair of boots produced could not be sworn to by the witness, except that they were like those he had lost.— Mr John Bray, storekeeper, gave evidence substantially the same. The prisoner had offered him the saddle, saying that it was nearly new, that he had bought it from a man who had been travelling overland, and that he would sell it for £2. Joll told prisoner on recovering the saddle that if it was the only thing stolen he would overlook it. The prisoner then turned out his *wag, and showed that i+ did not contain any more of Joll's property. —In defence the prisoner said he had given his own saddle to a man named Connor, who had been working in exchange for the saddle and boots now in Court. He was innocent of the crime he was charged with; he had never admitted having stolen the saddle; he had only said it was the first time stolen property had ever been found in his possession. In answer to the Magistrate he said he was 28 years of age, and had been eighteen months in the Province. —lnspector Scully said he had known the prisoner from a boy ; he had friends in Wellington, and was respectably connected, but he knew very little that could be said in his favor. — The Magistrate said there could be no doubt that the prisoner had stolen the saddle, and it was to be regretted that he had not been candid enough to admit it, without the additional fault of casting the blame on others. He acquitted him of having stolen the boots and bridle. This appeared to be a first offence, and he would not inflict a heavy penalty, He sentenced the prisoner to six weeks' imprisonment with hard labor in Napier Jail. He hoped he would endeavor on his release to retrieve his character. Thomas Bowden was charged by Captain Newland with horse-steal-ing. The case was heard by J. Anderson, Esq. Mr Lee appeared for defendant. It was shown that defendant had taken the horse from the paddock, and ridden, it to Puketapu, and that on his way back he had been arrested by the police For the defence it was proved pretty clearly that he had, no felonious intent, and was in fact, merely making an, unlawful use of the animal.—The case wan therefore dismissed.