HAWERA.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 449, 2 August 1879, Page 2

HAWERA.

(from our own correspondent.) R.M. COURT. Thursday, July 21. (Before 0. A. Wray, Esq., R.M.) Herbert Henry Jack ell was charged with stealing :t horse, saddle, and bridle, from Normanby, on Tuesday, the 27th July, the property of Frederick Ridditord. Mr Farrington for prisoner. Frederick Riddiford sworn.—l am a settler livingat Hawera. I was in Normanby on' Sunday evening, and gave my horse to the groom, at McGregor’s Hotel, and saw him take it into the stable. I tle-n went into" the hotel. I did not hear anything of the horse until about halfpast seven or eight. I was then told that the horse had gone. I gave no authority to the prisoner to take thehorse.

By Mr Farrington—The first time I met him was on that evening. I noticed he was drunk. Robert Jones sworn—l am n laborer residing at Normanby. I was in Mr McGregor’s kitchen on Sunday night last. I was called out to take a horse. I put it in the stable. It belonged to Mr Riddiford, There was a bridle and saddle on it. Some time afterwards I was told that there was a man leaving' with a horse. I went out to the stable, and saw that Mr Riddiford’s horse wasgone. I saw the prisoner. He was in the kitchen before Mr Riddiford came, and asked me if there was any horse belonging to the Constabulary. I told him no. He was drunk. Constable Packer sworn—l am stationed at Waihi. I was in McGregor’s Hotel on Sunday, in company with constable Mann. We saw the prisoner there the worse for drink, and very noisy. We got him out and took him tawards the Redoubt. I saw him late in the evening. about 7 o’clock- He was there some time. He then got up and said he would go home. About twenty minutes afterwards a man came and told me some one wanted to see me. I went outside and saw constable Jakell on horse back. I asked him where he was going to. He said “I am going to Opunake.” I asked him what for. He said that he was tired of Capt. Marshall, and was going to see Capt. Goring. Ho asked me to lend him a note, but I refused. He then ga/lopped away. I sang out and asked him where he the horse, but he did not answer. Constable Knight said—The prisoner’ came to Waihi on horseback and asked me to lend him £, and said he was going to Parihaka to catch Hiroki. He told me he had borrowed the horse from Mr Thomson. Some other witnesses were called, but gave no particular information. His worship said that from the evidence it appeared that the prisoner was under the influence of drink, and that he did not do it with the intention of stealing the horse, therefore be should dismiss the case. :