SUPREME COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3904, 4 September 1891, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

Trloker Siaoharffed.

Falsa Pretinoes-

Walter Tncker was indicted that on the 17th of last June he obtained from one Henry Dixon, of Masterton, a grey mare by means of false pretences. Mr A. Gray prosecuted, and Mr J. W. Poynton defended the prisoner, who pleaded not guilty. Mr Gray, in opening the case for the Crown, stated that on the day in question the acoused called on Dixon and asked him if he still had the grey mare which he wished to dispose of. Dixon replied in the affirmative, and the accused said that he had a purchaser for it at Masterton for £l6. Dixon then allowed the accused to take the animal away, and promised to bring the money back next day or return the horse. Instead of this, the accused took the iiorae to Carterton and sold it as his own, receiving £8 for it, and was then arrested a few days later. For the defence, it was contended that there was no false pretences, as a man named William Vile | had told the accused that he would purchase the horse. This was the man who the accused referred to as* being the purchaser at Masterton. William Vile was called as a witness, stating that he had offered to purchase the horse from the accused, but re" fused to give the price asked for it. £| After counsel had addressed tbe jury His Honor summed up, and the jury retired at twenty minutes past twelve and returned at four o'olock with' a verdict of not guilty. The prisoner was then discharged. FORGERY. Robert Shilling was indicted for having forged the signature of Alexander Grant, a sheep farmer, of Hawkes Bay, to a cheque on the 6th of July last for £l6. Mr Gray prosecuted and Mr Coatss defended the accused, who pleaded not guilty. The evidence for the prosecution was the same as that given in the Resident Magistrate's Court a few weeks ago, In answer to Mr Coates, Alexander Grant, who '* was the first witness called, stated that he had no recollection of ever* having seen the acoused before. He believed he (witness) had been in the Te Aro and Albert Hotels sometime, • but as to the date and whom he saw there he had no remembrance. He declined to say he was in the habit of going on periodical sprees. A number of witnesses were examined, and the jury retired at 5.80 p.m. and came to Court an hour later with a . verdict of not guilty. The prisoner was then discharged.