POLICE COURT. PAEROA. THURSDAY, MAY 17th, 1888.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 265, 19 May 1888, Page 2

POLICE COURT. PAEROA. THURSDAY, MAY 17th, 1888.

(Before Messrs N. Kenny and J. Ilott, J.s P,) Police v. Wm. Smith :—ln: — In this case accused William Smith, ahalf-caste gumdisrger of Omaha, Hikutaia, was charged by Constable A. J. Mitchell, on the information of Richard Hancock, a minor and farmer residing at Waihi, with stealing on or about March 23rd, one dark bay gelding, value £0, same being the property of tho said Piicbard Hancock. The following witnesses were examined :—: — Richard Hancock, who proved the purchase of the horse from John Me Geehan last December, and that he branded it with the letter II on the near shoulder, first missed the horse about March 23th from Waihi plains where it used to feed, together with two other horses the pro perty of Messrs Earl and Rudge, subsequent searching for the horse, of his informing the police and of its recovery by Constable Mitchell. Charlos Wright, storetceeper and firmer residing at Omahu, proved to frequently seeing accused riding the horse in question, that he informed witness it was his property etc. John King, a contractor who lived at Omahu, also stated that he had frequently seen accused riding the horse, and that he told him it was his own, etc. John Porter :— -A groom employed at Messrs Bradley and Co's stables at Hikutaia, proved that the horse was formerly his, his selling it last December to accused, etc., etc., that a shoit time back he informed accused that the horse was en Mr Alleys' farm, and that as John McGeehan was in jail he ought to let Mrs McGeehan know tho horse was there (witness not being aware that McGeehan had sold the horse to Hancock). George Alley : Stated that accused came to his fathers place at Hikutaia, about three weeks ago, enquiring for a stray horse, that he informed him of the horse in question being there, that accused went in the diretion of where he told him it was, and when he went out shortly afterwards both prisoner and horso had disappeared, and that he saw j accused riding the horse a few days afterwards. Frederick Bedford, blacksmith of Puriri, stated that prisoner brought the horse to his forge about April 25th to be shod telling him it was his own. Ho identified tho horso outside the court and claimed by Hancock (and the two foro shoea he had put on) as the'same one as he leferred to. Percy Vuglar proved that ho at the request of Mr Hancock had for some time been looking out for the horse he had lost, and that on Sunday, April 29th, he saw accused ride it throngh Paeroa, etc. Constable Richard Stapleton of Thames, deposed to seeing accused get two hind shoes put on the horse in question at Mr Mclntyres forge, Shortland, about tho end of April, and that in reply to a question from him, the man in the forge told him the {horse belonged to Smith. Constable A. J. Mitchell stated the circumstances which led up to his tracing the lost horse to accused, and that on the way to Paeroa he told witness that he would see Mrs Me Geehan and tell her lie could get £8 for the horse for her, etc, and that that would be better for her that the matter bo brought into Court. Accused declined to make any statement and was committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. The evidence was very voluminous and the case occupied the j Bench the whole day.