THEFT OF HORSE COVERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2582, 19 May 1923, Page 3

THEFT OF HORSE COVERS.

At the local S.M. Court yesterday before Mr J. L. Stout S.M., a local resident for whom Mr Berlin appeared, was charged by the police ■with the theft of two horse covers, the property of Boss, Bough and Co. Accused pleaded not guilty and elected to be dealt with summarily. Constable Owen in outlining the case said that on Saturday, May sth, eight horse covers had been left hanging in Boss, Bough and Co.’s stables at the rear of their mill in Johnston Street. On the following Monday morning two covers were missing. On the following Sunday the covers were seen on two horses owned by accused in Norbiton Bond. Accused took the horses from the road early on Monday morning and removed the covers, which accused locked in his harness room. When the covers were demanded hv the police, he unlocked the door and the covers were concealed beneath an old cover and a coil of rope. When accused said that some one had left the two covers in a sack in his office three days previous. Accused had not used the covers since. Herbert Austin Hussey, an employee of Boss, Bough and Co., said he had charge of the stables which were open. He had left eight covers there on the Saturday night and on the Monday morning two were missing. He identified the covers, produced, and estimated their value at between £4 and £5. He had reported the matter to the manager.

To Mr Bergin: Had been in the employ of the firm for about eight years. The stables were practically facing the road. Nothing had been done to change the appearance of the covers. Had never seen accused about the mill.

Joseph Bodger Hynes, mill manager, identified the covers and gave evidence as to seeing the covers on two horses in Norhiton Bond on Monday. The accused had taken charge of (he horses and he had next seen the covers in accused’s harness room in company with the jioliec.

To Mr Bergin: Tl was daylight when he saw the covers. There were no brands on the covers. There had been a lot of petty thieving going on for some time past. To Mr Owen: Two sacks of chaff had been stolen previously. This was the first time that anything had been recovered. Tt was possible to take a lorry to the stables. Constable Owen.'in evidence, said lie had made an inspection of hor--ses and had seen two horses owned by accused, with the covers produced on. To Mr Bergin: He was aware that accused’s office was a rendezvous for people who left, goods there. On behalf of accused Mr Bergin admitted that the covers had been found in accused’s possession hut tliis was the only evidence. The S.M.: That is quite sufficient evidence unless accused can give a suitable explanation of how he came into possession of the goods. The accused in evidence, said he was cutting wood near the Whivokino bridge as well as doing carrying about town. He had discovered the covers in a sack behind the door in his office. He did not take any notice of this as people were in the habit of leaving parcels there. On the Saturday night in question he had come in from Whirokino and decided to use the rugs as the night was cold and his horses were hot. He thought there was no harm in making use of the rugs as the owner could have had them as soon as he turned up. Constable Owen : Why did you not report the goods were there before yon took the risk of using them. Yon know that I have made frequent enquiries at the stables in reference to missing goods'? Accused: Yes, and I have given you every assistance in these matters. \ Constable Owen: Exactly, but have you bought any covers this year? Accused: No, as 1 have my own. Constable Owen: Well, why did you not use your own? Accused: Mine were not as good as these and I had lent one. Constable Owen: Why did you not put the covers back in the office where the owner could have got them instead of concealing them in the harness room? Accused said that he had not taken the covers off the horses hut that his assistant had removed them from the horses. He denied that he had been present when the covers 4 were removed. .The covers were not concealed and lie gave no insfructions for the covers to be put in the 1 harness room. In summing up the Magistrate said that it was a similar case to a. : man liayjng a stolen watch in his '* possession and saying that a man had given it. to him in the street. The covers should have been placed where the owner could have got them instead of being hidden. He remarked that it was peculiar that the accused had not called his as--1 sistant.. He could not accept accused’s story and would convict and impose a fine of £5 in default, seven days’ imprisonment. At the conclusion of-the hearing counsel for accused asked that the name be suppressed on the ground of the accused’s wife’s illness. The Magistrate said that he did not think the suppression would make much difference but he acceded to the request.