A DRUNKEN FREAK.

Kumara Times, Issue 937, 1 October 1879, Page 4

A DRUNKEN FREAK.

A pecular case was tried at Normanby before Captain Wray, R M. H. H. Jack ell, a member of the A C. Foce, was charged with horse-steal-ing. It appears he had been drinking at Nonnanby on last Sunday week, and about eight o’clock he went to hptel stables and took out a horse with saddle and bridle on it, belonging to Mr| W. Riddiford. He then rode toWaihi, and told the sentry that the Ministry were out, and that he had got a telegram from Mr Ormond to proceed at once td Parlhaka and captare Hiroki, at the same time asking for tho Joan of a Ll. he then rode off,° but passing the redoubt at the Waingungoro Bridge he was challenged, but to pass this he made use of his inventive faculties and concocted a story to the sergeant in charge, to the following effect : Colonel Roberts orders double your sentries, all men under arms, tell Sergeant Strachan at Livingstone’s house to take posaesionof of the bridge. When asked if he had any writing to that effect he said no, orders were, verbal, and that he had to go on at once to Opounake It was a frightful night, raining and hailing all through but the Canstabulary turned out to tho supposed orders, and were marching about all night, and up when an orderly came from Waihi, and not until then did they find it was a shameful hoax. The man was captured at Opunake about 3 o’clock on Monday morning on a charge of horsestealing. be was discharged on the grounds that there was sufficent evidence to prve felony. We believe he is to be courtmartialled on a charge of desertion and giving false alarms,