RESIDENT MAGISTRATE S COURT, HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1983, 24 March 1885, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE S COURT, HAMILTON.

Mon'dvy.— (lJefoio His Woiship thpM.iyoi, nud Mr John Kno\, J.1 J .) srk\M\'(S A HOKSr, SYDDI.K \M> HKIDI K. HKNKYdoNh-i,.iyoungm,in,djeshed aftei the fashion of a Bailor, w.wchaigod with having on the lt)\h M.ircli, nut. at Ohaupo, stolen a pony v.Uucd at JUS, the pioporty »f (Joojgp Colbeck. Prisoner was also charged with h.uiug at the same placo, and on (ir alio.it thu H.une d.ito, stolen n saddle of the value of 20s, tho propei ty of 11. Ninkey, and a bridle valued at fn, tho property of A. Graham. Nergt-Major McOovcrn conducted th« prosecution and tho prisoner, who was undefended, pleaded not guilty. Snrgt-Major Mctiovetn s lid prisonoi wan working at the Ohaupo null. Ho lodged with Mr Ninkey, from whom ho stole thn saddle, afterwards taking tho pony and hi idle and decamping for tho Thames. Ho called William Ninkey, a lad, tho hou of Ralph Ninkey. Prisoner lodged at hm father* hoiiKu for three days, and loft on Sunday night, the loth. L.ist saw him about halfpast noven or eight. In tho morning ho was gone. Witness missed a saddle. Tho ono now produced was tho one. Piisonor did not ask for a loan of tho saddle. Did not coiinent to the prisoner's taking tho saddle. Kilpli Ninkoy, a settlor at Ngaroto, deposed that piiHoner left his house on Sunday night. WitncHsdidnotgivohhn permission to t.iko tho saddle. l'atiick Ht-rlwrt, a police constable stationed at tho Thames, do) » nod, that he arrentod the piisoner on the ISth, at tho Thames, mi another charge. Ho had tho Haddlo (produced) in his possession, which he said he h.id purchased from a M.ioii at Ohaupo. Hinco then ho had ailmitted that ho took tho saddlo, but said ho had the ownoi 'h consent. I'nsoiKii pleaded guilty to tho charge of stealing the bridle. On thu charge of stealing tho pony, Kergt. -Major Mc(iovorn called. (leorge Colbeck, a sawyer at Millars mill, who deposod that tho accused was cm ploye Jat tho mill chopping h'rowood. Last saw the accused on the evening of the l, r ith at Ohaupo. On Monday morning tho 10th, witness missed a pony. It was kept in Mr Millars paddock. Witness described tho pony. Ho suspected tho prisoner, .uH at once communicated with tho police, i'lisouer had admired tho horse on piovioiis occasions, and had expressed a dotiro to have it. Tho hoico in the police paddock was the ono ho lost on tho Kith. Thomas Ulnnchetto Thompson, a farm labourer residing at Annandale, near Morrinivillo, deposed : On the morning of thn Kith ho met tho prisoner on Jenkins Hill, riding tho horuo now in tho police paddock. They entaied into com creation, and v> itnens remarked tb.it tho pony ridden by prisoner wns a nice little horse, and asked whoie iio got it. Prisoner snid it was a wild how, and hnd been caught on tho ranges by a man named Johnnon, from whom lio (|»rii°n"r) hud bought it. After

Home furthei c.iinrn.itioii, tiny exchanged humps, witness giwng a pair of spins to boot. Ci,i^(-f-\ imiupi] : You did net say you weto coming luck fiom the Tl ames in a week, mid would restou; my limno if I waa not satisfied with the Inrg.nn. Constable Horbert deposed to having arrested the prisoner on the lHth inst., at the Thames rnsonoi told witni'-s that ho had driven ottli 1 throng-)) fioui Obniipo, and that tho homo ho was riding he h<id puichiiHod from his brothor-in-1 iw, O'Biicn, for £1 He said he knew no unu named Colbock, nor of his having lout <t pony. Ho afterward* infoimrd tho witness that ho had scoti a Frenchman, named Jaino* Smith, nding a liorso which corrp«pondi'd with the d«scription of Oolh'ck'" jvmy. He was detained, pending commnnic vtion with •SiTgt. -Major .Nfcdovern. and nftcrwards ch.irged with nteahng tlio hoive and reminded to Hamilton. On the previous day (the 22nd), prisoner admitted to witness that ho stole tho pony, and explained that he had bartered it for one belonging t<> a man whom he described, and who aftorwardn proved to be Thompson. In consequence of this, witness and Constable Wild went to Morrmnville and recovered the animal. Prisoner had no statement to mnke. The Bench sentenced tho prisoner to tux months' iiiiprifionmont, with hard labour, for thr laiceny of the naddleand bridle. On tho charge of stealing the home, h« was committed for trial at the next criminal hittings of the Snpieme Court at Auckland.