POLICE COURT, HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2403, 3 December 1887, Page 2

POLICE COURT, HAMILTON.

Fulday.—(Before Mr H. Vv r . North croft, R.M., and Mr Seddim, J.P.) Horse Stealing at Huntly. Dasihi, R,y AX was brought up on remand from Cambridge charged with tins olfeiiee. Inspector Kioly conducted the prosecution. Andrew Douglas, of Huntly, butcher boy, deposed to seeing the accused about the place and missing the horse, on doth November. .lames Harris, sworn, saw line accused about his father's hotel on doth November. He had a swag and said he was going to sleep in the stable. He was quite sober at the time. A ext morning the gate and stable door were wide open and ho missed the horse, he looked down the road for it and could not find it. The horse in the Court yard is the one lost. William Class, of Huntly, deposed to seeing the accused riding past Ins father’s shop on Mr Harris’s horse on the morning of the day staled. He was going towards Ngaruawahia. Saw the accused two or throe days before this, and ho was then quite sober. W. B. Lawson, horse dealer, of Uangiriri, deposed Unreeling the accused at the Delta Hotel at Ngaruawahia. and that in conversation with witness lie had stated iie came from Hamilton where lie had been to look at a contract, and that he had borrowed the horse from Jim Harris. Witness knew the horse to belong to Mr Harris. During the night about eleven o’clock he was attracted by a fiasli of light coining from tile stable. Dressed himself and went down to tile yard, met the accused leading out Hatris’ horse, and also found ho had taken a now stirrup and leather belonging to him, the witness. Ho took it from him and the accused then rode off towards Huntly. Constable Brennan, deposed to the accused coming to Cambridge, on the -JC.th November. He questioned him and the accused said he had met some Maoris near Huntly, loading the horse, and that they gave him a vide as far as Ngaruawahia. The accused looked as though ho had been on the drink, and appeared tired and worn. He arrested him that afternoon. Constable Wild deposed to making enquiries for the horse at Kenny’s farm on the Ngaruawahia road and to taking charge of the animal. In reply to the Dench, the prisoner said he knew nothing about the circumstances. The same accused was next charged with stealing a saddle and bridle, the property of Mr Harris, of Huntly, at the same lime. Andrew Douglas and other previous witnesses gave evidence of identification. In reply to the Dench, the accused assorted lie was nut in his propor j-on.scs at the time, and C‘»nld remember nothing of what he had done. Ho had been drinking heavily. JIo swore he would never taste liquor again. The Touch stated that there was no evidence to show fehmious intention. His action appeared to be that of a man not in his senses- The Tench cautioned him, and he was discharged.