ALLEGED THEFT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10222, 25 April 1911, Page 3

ALLEGED THEFT.

THE CASE ADJOUKTED. At the Magistrate's Coiut in Ma terton yesterday, before Me~r,rs' J Brown and Eli Smith, J.P.'s, Frederick Butcher was charged that, at Taratahi, about January 7th, he did steal a saddle valued at 30s, the property of Eonard Compton. Mr 6. H. Cullen appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty. Sergeant Miller stated that Compton missed his saddle early in January and saw it last Saturday at Spcused' house, and informed the police. Leonard Compton, of Taratahi, said he had owned the saddle for a number of years. He had lent it for a tiwie to the head slaughterman at Waingawa, who returned it. Shortly after witness missed it. He identified the saddle produced in Court as his. Peter Christian Jorgensen identified the saddle as Compton's, and stated that he had returned it to him about New Year. About a week ago he saw accused using it at the abattoirs and asked what he gave for the secondhand saddle, to which he replied that he did not give anything for it. Constable Dumphy gave evidence as ■ to having found the saddle in accused's : shed. He and Compton took it to ] the abattoirs and asked accused if '-t j was liis, to which accused replied that | it was, and that he had purchased it for 10s from a man on the Carterton road. Accused brought a man named Moore from the works who stated that he was present when the purchase was made. Accused further stated that he had a receipt, but search failed to find it. Mr Cullen stated that accused was driving home from the abattoirs in company with a man named Moore, when his horse played up. A man 1 named Williams came to his assistance and Butcher made the remai'k that if he had a saddle he would bring the horse, which was a young one, to its bearings, wherejipon the former offer- ( ed him the saddle in question for 10s, and the purchase was made. j Frederick Butcher, the accused, gave ■ evidence as to the purchase of the saddle, and stated that he had found the receipt on Saturday night, which he produced. \ Charles Moore, butcher, employed at the abattoirs, gave evidence in corroboration of the statement made by accused. The Bench stated that the case ivould be adjourned for fourteen days ' in order to ascertain if the man Wil- v iams, from whom the saddle was al- ( ieged to have been purchased, could , je found, and his evidence obtained, I is at present there was an element of < Joiibt aboat the case. . Accused was admitted to bail in lis )wn recognisance of £lO, and two sureties of £lO each. f