ALLEGED HORSE STEALING.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 983, 12 January 1883, Page 3

ALLEGED HORSE STEALING.

This morning, before Dr Croft, J.P., Hori Nareo, a native from Bulls, was charged with stealing a horse, (he property of Robert Cornwall, and selling it to Andrew Scott of Hawera. Robert Cornwall, sworn, deposed: I am a blacksmith, residing at Whenriakura. I recollect a horse being stolon from the brickyard at Whennakura, on or about the 14th August, 1882. The horse was tethered in the brick yard ► with a new rope. lie could not have broken away. The horse was a roan, about fourteen hands high, with a white ring on the off hind fetlock caused by a tether rope. The horse was about twenty years old. I have had him in my possession 15 years. He is well known by all the neighbourhood and I value him at £4. He has never strayed away from the place. I can say that he would not have strayed if he had not been taken; I searched the district looking for him, and reported to the police, and advertised in the public papers, offering a reward of one pound for its recovery. I do not know the prisoner. About the time the horse was stolen I remember a number of natives coming towards Patea and Hawera. I believe there was a meeting being held by Tito Kowarn at the Plains. I next saw the horse on the 19th November, 1882. On that day I went to Hawera and saw the police there and received the stolen horse from them the same day. The horse referred to is the one now produced, Andrew Scott: I am- a builder residing at Hawera. I recollect the 29th August last, I met the prisoner on # the road as I was going to Manaia. He was going towards Hawera and was alone and riding a roan coloured horse. The prisoner when we met stopped and asked me the time. I told him it was between 7 and 8 o’clock. I can’t say whether I asked him to sell the horse.or if he asked me to buy him. He seemed anxious to - sell- the horse. I bought it from him lor £3. He asked £5. There was no one present at the time I bought the horse, I paid prisoner by a cheque for £3 on the Union Bank of Australia in the presence of Mr John Muir, of Manaia. I got the prisoner to sign his name on the back of the cheque. 1 had no stamps, and this was the only receipt (produced) I could get. I left the horse in Mr Muir’s paddock. T afterwards sold him to a Mr Burgess, of Hawera, and now residing at Okaiatvn. I sold the horse for £B. The horse now produced at the Courthouse door is the same which I bought from prisoner and sold to Mr Burgess. (Left sitting.)