R.M. COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1340, 30 March 1883, Page 2

R.M. COURT.

f * . Before M*s.Bibil JJpV^'George" Pearce, 'alias Edward Price, ,vas charged Won or about tho*24th >f March, at .Opaki 'he obtained inder false pretences -from Evan McKenzie a horse saddle and bridle of Jie value of £lB JOT Harold Fitzherbert, an officer of the Bank of New Zealand at Wellington leposed that the accused had no iccount at the.Bnnk, and that the 3hequc produced was marked at the bank no «ceo""t • The accused who had squatted down in the prisoner's; box did not ask any questions of this jvilness, and did not appear to understand the proceedings, Evan McKenzie deposed: I am a farmer residing on the Opaki. I know the accused. On Saturday last he bought fiom me thiee hoises to the amount of £59. • On the following clay I gave him delivery of one of them, a pony, on the understanding that he was to bring it back the same night, but he did not do so, He said he would take away the other two in a' week's time. He borrowed my saddle and bridle when he took away the pony. It was, on the strength of a cheque he gave me that I let him have posssssion of the pony. The cheque is dated tho 25, th insfc., but I made a mistako in, the.datc when I filled it in. The accused asked me to fill in the cheque Baying that he was not a good writer. On the same day that I got the cheque I gave it to Mr Duwson to hand it to the bank at Masterton in order to ascertain whether it was a good one. It came back dishonored, Ihe evidence of the second witness was read over by the Clerk of the Oouit to the accused, who sat in a chair in tho dock with his head hanging down.

George Dawson, contractor, deposed, that on Saturday last Mr McKenzie gave him a chequo togive to Mr Boddingtouof the" Bank of New Zealand, Mr Boddiugton, manager of the Bank, of New Zealand at Masterton,. received the cheque from Mr Dawson and forwarded it to Wellington, and it was returned.with the answer "no account." William Campbell, a constable doing detective duty, deposed that he arrested the accused. Other charges were pending against him at the time. When arrested he had in .his possession' a horse,; saddle, and bridle; which were subsequently identified by Mr Evan McKenzie. - This.completed the evidence for the prosecution. The Clerk read the customary caution to the accused, who replied as his plea " I don't know- what you mean." The Clerk: Have you any statement I to make ?

Accused: No! The accused was then brought to the table to sign his name. He sobbed find cried during this process, "exclaiming " fo God's sake don't,"' ';■;'. The.! Court committed the case for trial, ..,„ . i : "\'■• i ■ The prisoner was then removed. We understand that his peculiar 'behavior is by some attributed to. and by others to insanity. ...-;