WOMAN STEALS HORSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 180, 1 August 1925, Page 14

WOMAN STEALS HORSE.

AFTER EMPLOYER'S DEATH.

SOLD IT AS HER OWN.

A verdict of guilty, with a recommendation to mercy, was returned by the jury yesterday afternoon in the case of Elizabeth Wilson, charged with the theft of a bay gelding, valued at f 14, the property of the estate of the late F. J. Booth, farmer, who resided about eight miles from Tuakau. Accused was represented by Mr. Davis.

The evidence for the Crown (Mr. V. R. Meredith) showed that accused had been acting in the capacity of housekeeper for Booth, who died in September. The owner of the bourse from whom Booth bought it at the salesyards, and the drover who took the animal from the yards at Booth's farm, gave evidence. Robert Barron, farmer, of Kohanga, deposed to having bought the gelding from accused for £4, after the death of Booth. In a statement to Constable Maiden, accused said she had bought the horse for £7, from a man at Mangere. Later, when, interviewed by Detective Sweeney, she had said that "young Booth had given the horse to little Jack," meaning her son. She stated that £42 was owing by Booth senior to herself and two boys, for work done.

Mr. Davis urged that the behaviour of accused was not that of a guilty party. In disposing of the horse she had consulted a third person, as to the price, and the local constable had made outthe receipt for her, just before she boarded the train. The receipt was signed in the name of Major, by which she was known in the district.

In summing up, Mr. Justice Herdman asked the jury if they could believe accused's statement to the detective that x„r tou S ht the horse from a man at Mangere. The evidence concerning ! the purchase of the horse by Booth was ' perfectly clear. ' When the jury returned the verdict, ■ his Honor stated that Wilson was already serving a sentence on another charge. She would be remanded for sentence till 9.30 a.m. on Monday.