FURIOUS RIDING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3600, 29 August 1890, Page 2

FURIOUS RIDING.

The Case Slsmleeei.' in tlieE,M. Court this morniug, before Colonel Roberts, 8.M., Benjamin Cave,. of Te Ore Ore, was .charged with a breach of the Police Offences Act on Saturday , last, by riding furiously through Queen Street./ . .a. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Sergeant Price briefly explained the case."',.. • ...

Constable O'Leary,sworn,deposed that he was on duty in Queen {Street on Saturday evening e.boaV.B.Bo p.m. He saw defendant start off from: in front of Williams' as though lie waß starting in a raoo. He lilted up his avow aud drove the spurs into the animal he was riding, followed him up and saw him knock down a man named Feilding near the Post Office, The horse was galloping hard. Called out tq defendant, but lie apparently did not hear. •Defendant:' Will you take your oath I had spurs on? Witness; 1 will not.

Defendant: You were near meal the time, will you swear, that I hac not one hand in my pocket) Witness: I swear you had not.

Defendant: Could you swear thai I had hold of the reins 'when mj horse started 1

Witness: You pulled him up soon enough whon you knooked the man down.

Constable V. Hooper, sworn, deposed that he was on. duty in Queen street about 8.30 on Saturday night. He was at the Post Office corner. Observed the horse coming frota the direction of the Club Hotel at a very great pace. Called out to the rider to moderate his pace, but he did not appear to hear. Noticed that when he got along a little way he knocked down a man named Feilding. Ban after the accused, who pulled up after going a short distance. Defendant stated the horse had got the. better of him. Could swear that defendant had a spur on the right foot. '

The Bench asked if the defendant wished to give evidence. Defendant: I wish to state how the Hffair occurred.

The Bench then cautioned him. Defendant, Bworn, stated that ■ lie started to go home on the 28rd about 8,30.; Stopped in front of Williams' to get some tobacno, Asked one Jidward Bannister to get him some tobacco, and he did so. Pqt the tobacco into his pocket, and while he had one hand in his pocket and thp reins loose in the' other, his horse started off. Thorp was a orowd in the street at the time'. The animal jumped round on his hind legs and bounded off as hard as he could go. Tried to stop him 'as well as he could, but as there was only a few strides between where he started and where tho mail was standing he could upt do so. As soon as lie. got' control of the reins he pulled up. The horse had never run away with him before, but had done so with a man named Young, from whom he bought it. The crowd evidently started the horse, By Sergeant Price; Had only one spur on at the time the horse started, but did not use it on tha animal. The liQrsp was started by the crowd of footballers. , . , ■

Edward Bannister, swori), deposed that hp'got tobaoco and matches for defendant.' While he was speaking to him afpjit who pn the football matoh scjmeSme cried put.!' We did." Defendant'' was then leaning buck with the reins slaoked to put the tobacco and matches in his pocket. He was asked another guestion.' but before jje. cojild answer the liprse wheeled rofliid pii s|ot_ pay,' Han up the afreet, pspegtjng the horse would throw'him.' "Was at the Post Office corner almost as soon as the mail was knocked down. If the spur was oil defendant's right fpot it could not have been used, as ho: Waete) wa's e't'w&ig tfaat eicto. i

vßy Sergeant; Price: The ma could not- have spurred the hors without bis seeing it. He wasboum to, move iiis leg,,'and he would havi Been it. •

The Court decided that the charge bad not been'fully, sustained, and the oase would tfatafore be ( dismissed.