RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. Hawkesbury, 17th September, 1864. (Before J. W. Murdoch, Esq., R.M., and J. Orbell, Esq., J.P.)

North Otago Times, 22 September 1864, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. Hawkesbury, 17th September, 1864. (Before J. W. Murdoch, Esq., R.M., and J. Orbell, Esq., J.P.)

Edward Brewer, of Hnmpden, saddler, charged with having stolen a horse, the property of Hunter Strachan. Eemanded case. Sergeant O'Brien conducted the examination of the several witnesses. Hunter Strachan sworn, stated — I lost a horse about the 29th of last month. I saw the horse last by the stable. Search was made for it ne\t day, without success. On my return homo on the 21st, I gave information to Ihe police. I saw the horse again on the morning of the 1st September. It was very much fagged, and had the appearance of having been ridden. J noticed a slight saddle mark. The horse was found outside the stable door. I do not know how he came back. I made enquiries on the Blueskin road on the Saturday following, and learnt the horse had passed through on the Monday previous. I know the prisoner. I saw him in your presence the night he was apprehended. That was the 9th September. He admitted having taken the horse. Prisoner did not give up the horse to me. I do not know personally if the prisoner was awnre I was making inquiries about the horse. He lives opposite to me. The horse is now outside the Court I wish to say that prisoner has always been a steady, well-conducted young man, and I have no desire to press the case. By the Court — I did not give prisoner permission to take the horse away. The horse was away from the 29th August to 1st September. The horso was not taken from Ihe stable, but outside. It wns in the habit of running there. Prisoner did not deliver the horse to me. I have no doubt the horse had been ridden by the prisoner. I never suspected prisoner of having taken the horse. The hoise was back before I saw prisoner. 1 value the horse at about £25. I am Road Inspector at Hampden. Was not aware the horse was missing until my return homo on the 31st August. My sou had been looking for the horse. The examination in this case was adjourned for a time, in consequence of a material witness having been suddenly seized with an apoplectic fit. Resumed. — Frank O'Brien sworn — I am a Sergpant of Police, stationed at Ilnmpden. I reccned information, on the 31st of August last, from Mr Strachan, that a horse had been stolen from him. From inquiries I made, 1 spoke to the prisoner, and asked what horse he had ridden to Dunedin. Prisoner denied having ridden there, but said that lie had walked both going and returning. I arrested prisoner on the 9th rast After having cautioned him, he again denied having had the horse. A few hours after being arrested prisoner admitted to Mr Strachan and myself that he had taken the horse, and was sorry for it 1 took the prisoner to Port Chalmers, where lie was recognised by Michael Butler, ostler at the Port Chalmers Hotel, as having left a horse in the stable two days while he himself went to Dunedin by steamer. Grriffin, on oath, identified prisoner as having fed the horse at his place on the Blueskin road, on Monday morning, the 28th August. The prisoner on being asked, and receiving the usual caution, had nothing to say. Committed to take his trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court, on a charge of horse-stealing. Edward Brewer was again charged by Sergeant O'Brien with stealing a saddle and bridle from Mr Prosser's stables, Clyde Hotel. John Prosser sworn, stated — I am a licensed publican. I lost a saddle and bridle on the night of tho 27th August last. The Baddle and bridle now shown me are mine, and are those I speak of. I value them at £5 or £6. There were several other saddles in the stable at the time. My saddle was taken. Prisoner had to pass the other saddles to get at mine The prisoner is acquainted with my premises and stables. The prisoner borrowed a waterproof coat from me on the morning of the 27th. I was in bed at the time. My wife told me he wanted it as ho was going to Dunedin. I did not hear prisoner say he had taken the saddle. I heard prisoner say he would show you where it was. Frank O'Brien sworn — On tho 30lh August I received information from the last witness that a saddle and bridle had been stolon from the Clyde Hotel stables. I arrested the prisoner on the 9th instant, on a charge of horse-stealing. Prisoner, after being cautioned, denied having had anything to do with either horse, saddle, or bridle, but afterwards admitted he had tanen Mr Prosser's saddle and planted it in the flax. Prisoner went with me and showed me where the saddle was. Prisoner, at my request, took the saddle up to examine it, and said it was just as he had left it. The saddle now m Court is the same one that was in the flax. It was planted about 100 yards from the roadside, and m the centre of a large flax bush. I afterwards took the saddle and bridle to Mr Prosser, who identified them as his property. Prisoner, having been cautioned in the usual manner, had nothing to say. Committed for trial. Alexander Andrews, charged with stealing a 6ilver watch and chain from the person of Wm. Hough, afc the Hampden Hotel, on the 14th instant. William Hough proved that, on the 14th instant, he was at the Hampden Hotel, and had a silver watch in his trousers pocket, which he had just purchased from Mr Henderson Recollects seeing the prisoner there, but afterwards became too drunk to recollect anything that passed. Was woke up by Mr Carter, who asked him to feel if his watch was in his pocket. Did so, and found it was gone. Could not swear to the watch produced as being the one he purchased from Henderson. Recollects having the watch in his pocket up to 11 a.m. Gave information to the police the samo night of the robbery. Believed the watch now Bhown him to be the same as that shown him by the Sergeant after he had given information of the robbery. Was to have given Henderson £A for the watch. Believes it to be worth £6. Henderson proved having sold a watch to Hough, and identified the watch before the Court as tho one he sold Hough, on tho morning of the 14th instant. Edward Carter proved having seen prisoner's hand in Hough's trousers pocket, and also warned Hough to look after his watch. Sergeant O'Brien proved having arrostod tho prisoner in the bush, and finding the watch upon him. Prisoner made no defence, and was committed for trial. Joseph Ward, illegal occupation of Crown lands, Hampden. Ordered to pay costs, and remove forthvtdth.