ALLEGED HORSE STEALING.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 112, 13 May 1924, Page 7

ALLEGED HORSE STEALING.

THREE MEN ON TRIAL. AT SUPREME COURT. l The trial commenced at the criminal , ' sessions of the Supreme Oourt this i morning before Mr. Justice Herdman i and a jury, of Percy McGiltfray, Clyde i Powell Ludwig, and Walter Barraclough, j who were each arrainged on a charge of . stealing 15 horses of a total value of I £105 at Otaua on September 26, 1923. i Each was alternatively charged with . receiving 15 horses knowing them to . have been dishonestly obtained. I Mr. Paterson appeared for the Crown. Mr. Singer appeared for Ludwig, Mr. .i J. J. Sullivan for McGilvray, and Mr. Mason for Barraclough. Mr. Paterson said that the evidence ' would show that at a certain time the horses disappeared and that some of I the accused were seen in the locality driving the horses. The horses were found on Ludwig's farm. The. evidence I would also show that Ludwig was the I chief offender and that Barraclough and McGilvray were assisting him. Emslie Grininiond, storekeeper, Otaua, the first witness for the Crown, deposed I that he had several horses out on the road at the Ake Ake district Four horses were missed by witness about ; the middle of September. While he was out looking; for his horses he noticed two of Charles Hoskin's horses on the road. They were looking very footeore. Subsequently witness went to Te Awamutu with Constable Doyle, and! I identified fourteen horses out of fiftcn ' } J which were in a paddock. Four of the i horses belonged to witness. Witnese i never gave anyone authority to remove ! hie horses to Te Awsnmtu. He did not J know any of the accused. Mr. Singer: Were your horses shod: l>lo, they were not shod when I left ! them out. I William Foster Beod said he owned a ; Shetland pony and valued it at £20. The pony and another horse went missing in September, and witness did not ■ see them until Mr. Grimmond brought them bnok from Te Awarautu to Puke *ohe. Witness did not -know cither ; of the accused. J A farmer named John Kingeton Hull .of Ake Ake, said that he missed four of his horses in September last and despite a thorough search of the roads in the neighbourhood they could not be I fonnd. ■ . Two other witnesses gave similar cv! i dence. (Proceeding.)