ALLEGED HORSE-STEALING. THE BRIDEGROOM BEFORE THE COURT. From Auckland Star, September 13.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 299, 15 September 1888, Page 5

ALLEGED HORSE-STEALING. THE BRIDEGROOM BEFORE THE COURT. From Auckland Star, September 13.

William Mooke was again before the Police Couib this morning to answer to the charge ot having stolen from Dome Valley one mare \alue £10, the Droperty of John Drake. Messrs W. McCullough and F. L. I'rime were the piesiding justices. The pnsoner is the young man who was refeired to in a previous issue as having been man led at W ark worth and anested by Detective McGrath on the evening of the same day when he and his bride arrived in Auckland. Since then he has been twice lemanded and not baile i, although it was allowed by the Bench. Mi Jackson Palmei appeared foi the accused. James Drake, settler. Dome Valley, deposed to being the owner of the mate in question. She was black with white blaze down the face, with two white hind legs. He valued the mare at £10. He had given £15 for her tour years ago. She was left in witness's fenced paddock. The ience was weak on one side, and he beliered that unless it was mended the mare coul I have got through to his neighbour's farm, V\ itness went away on a trip to Wellstord, and upon returning home he found that, his mai c was gone. He reported the matter to the police. He next saw the maic a. Auckland in the possession of a Mr I'ahei t, who had since handed her OAtr to witness. The animal was now ouOide the Couit. Witness never gave the accused oi any other person authority to tell the maio. Thomas Mack low, fanner at Dome j Valley, deposed that his iarm adjoined that of the l«st witness. On the srh of April last, he found the mare on bib faim, and turned hei out on the road. The same j maic was now outside the Coiui. William (lowther, coach piopiiutoi, Wullesle\ -sheet, depo-ed that on {Satin- ! da}, the 7ih da\ oi April last, the accused j came to his place, and sold the mare to him i tor C 3. It was lame at the time. \\ ltness j received t.he receipt pioduced. It was | signed b) John Armitage. Witness atterwards sold the mare to Mi Calveit. Theßench pointed out that Mr Crowther s name did not appear in the receipt. By Mr Palmer : The mare was not blackleaded when he bought her. The blackleading was done two or three days before she was. sold to Mr Cahett for the purpose of going to a luneral. Since the prisoner had been anested the police had been informed of tho black-leading. That was quite recently . Up to the 7th of this month the police had not known who did the black leading. The hoise was not woilh CIO w lien he bought it, as it was lame. Aithur Caheit deposed to buying the marc trom Mi Ciowthei for L"8. ttubse quently he handed her o\er to the ounei, \lr I hake. Theie were remain 1 * ot blacklead on the face \\ hen he bought hei. Deleothe -I. A. McGrath deposed to auvsting the prisoner on the "J9th ot August on the (vluecn-t-tiect Whail. Witness told him that theic v.a 1 - trouble ic-g-udnig tlio hoise he had bold Mr Ciowther last A|iril. Jlc replied: "i sold no horse to Ciowther, Witness asked "Arc \ou quite fsuieV He .-aid : "Oh }es, a black mate." Witness said "Yon did notgixe the propei name." He replied: "No: I ga\c the name of Armitage, because the maio belonged ,o Willi-in A imitate, and he gave her tomeiu soil on commission.' 1 He also said that he ha • »uen the inonoj to At mirage, less i'l uuiihiik*ioii, and that : ho held tbr leceipt. By Mr Palmei : The hrst intimation he fiarl of the black-leading was m Mi- Palmei s office. A gentleman who was thepriMjnei's uncle mentioned the matter. He also saw it afterwasds in the E\ lmng St\k. \\ llliam Armytage. storekcepei and farmer residing at Wellsfoid, deposed that excepting his son -igtd 18 he was the only William Armytage in tho district. tie might say that he had ne\er beiote seen the accused, although hu fancied that the leatuiet were familiar. Constable .lohn Haddock, stationed at Warkworth, deposed that William Armytage was the only one in the district. By Mr Palmer : He saw Mooie the day before he v, ent io Auckland. He suspected him Ihon, but did not arrest him. This concluded the evidence for the prosecution. Mr Palmoi le&orved his detence, and the pri&oncr was committed to take his trial at the next ciiminal sittings ot the Supreme Conit Bail was allowed on the application of Mi Palmei, himse fin £100, and two suieties of l! 50 each.