MARTON COURT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9438, 7 May 1909, Page 8

MARTON COURT.

ALLEGED THEFT. * Before Messrs J. J. McDonald and A. H. Sutcliffe, J’s.P.Lj At Marten Court yesterday, a middle- named ' John.Peroival Hughes was charged with attempting to commit theft of a horse, gig, harness, etc., valued at £45, the property of Richard Kendrick, Marion Junction Stables, In' opening the case Constable Fitzpatrick briefly stated the facts; On the 26th April accused hired a horse and gig tor the purpose of canvassing the district with a book on treatment .of horses. The hire charges were agreed upon and ac■eased might want the gig for « few weptts. He left on Monday and promised to return in the afternoon hut did not do so. On the following day information was received 'that accused endeavoured to sell the turnout to a Wangaehn. The Maori being suspicion! did not buy, and accused went on to Wanganui and put up at Gordon’s stables, y where he left the horse and gig for two days. Mr Kendrick traced the turnout and brought it hack to Marton on the 28th April.

Richard Kendrick deposed to having, made the arrangement for the hire of the gig to accused who wanted it for a number of days. He promised to return the same day as the first hiring took place but failed to do so. Witness did not get' anxious about him, until he received a telephone message from the Club Hotel asking if accused had returned. When informed he bad . not turned up, the proprietor told him he haci taken his luggage away., This made him anxious and the following morning he went to Tnrakina. but found defendant bad gone on to Wangaehn. Witness went on to this place and on making inquiries found that be had left there also, bnt nobody could tell him in,which direction he bad gone. He was told accused had offered the turnout for sale. He then oompanni coated with the police, who wore not long in out the horse and gig were at Gordon’s stables, in Wanganui. H. Hiroti.ija native interpreter, residing at Wangaehu, said accused called at his place on Tuesday the 27th April, about SJJo’olook. He told hia mother he was Dr. Hughes, and as they, were expecting the Health ' Officer, his mother sent out for him as he 'Was working/ some distance away "from the house. His mother told accused that he ( witness) might hoy the turnout. Witness told accused it was a nice turnout, and' in farther accused said it <jost him £6o—the horse £2O, gig £3O and he reckoned the rug and harness was worth £lO. He asked witness what*he thought was a fair pfioe to give, but he\ could not say and accused then said he would .sell for £2O. He / thought this was good value, and on making an inspection of the gig fonud it was built by George Cummins, of, Marton. Witness agreed to give him the £2O sand offered to give him a cheque, but accused said he would prefer cash. After agreeing to the bargain witness told accused he wanted a witness to the transaction and sent his brother to get Mr Angus McDonald. They were going to settle at the hotel, .where accused intended to,get the cheque cashed. He forgot his cheque book and had to go back,, to his house for it. On coming out of the ,house he saw accused with iMr Gibson, settler, Tnrakina, going towards the station. Witness asked the .latter if he knew accused, and lie replied in the negative. Gibson asked him if he was doing any business with him, and he told him he was trying to sell him a turnout. He was warned to be careful but all along he had his own suspicions. Offering the turnout for £2O led him to suspect whether Hughes had any legal title to it. He went home instead of going to the hotel, and while having tea accused called to see him again about effecting the sale. He told him he bad decided not to buy. Accused impressed upon him he was offering a cheap turnout for £2O. Witness explained they did not know each other and he did not know whether it was accused’s own turnout. Accused assured him the deal would be all right, and he need not he afraid. Witness replied that might be’ao from accused's point of view and then told him he would oompelte the deal provided ho complied with two conditions-—that accused produced receipts for the turnout, -and also got some one to identify him. This accused could not do, and he remarked that all his papers were in town, furthermore he stated he was a stranger in that part of the die-; trict. Witness then refused to 1 have any further dealing with him, hot; accused still insisted and said if witness was afraid to pay £2O down, , he would accept a deposit. Witness said he would db nothing of the. kind, and since accused had failed to fulfil his. conditions he would have nothing to do with the transaction. When accused saw that witness was determined not to buy the whole turnout he offered to sell the rug, hut witness then made it clear to him he would boy nothing. /Witness then started to talk about £the Maori race and what kind people they were, and then asked u that he might be allowed to stay at his place over night. He told him it was not convenient for him to do so, and reminded him-there was a hotel at Wangaehn which was there for the •convenience of the public. If he •came back next day prepared to fulfil the conditions witness would buy. Before leaving accused asked if there was another Maori pah inthe vicinity, and he told him there was. Witness remembered him say- . ing he was Dr. Hughes, and that he was tired of travelling through the country and Wished to dispose of his turnout. He did not say what sort of a doctor he was. Corroborative evidence was given by Efiroti’s brother, and Ohas. Hatch deposed as to aconaedpiaving come to Gordon’s stables to put up the horse and gig for a few days. Accused, who Was represented by Mr Collins, pleaded not guilty, and reserved hia defence. He was committed for trial at the Supreme Court, Wanganui, bail being granted jn two sureties of £25 each, or one of £SO, On a further charge of having attempted to receive mousv by false pretences he was remanded till the next sitting of Marton Court.