RESIDENT MAGISTRATES' COURTS

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1371, 30 March 1867, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATES' COURTS

CnmsTcnuECH —March 29. [Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.] David lie Arthur was charged unler the Dog JVuieanco Ordinance with bein;> the owner of two dogs above the age of three months unregistered for tho current year. The defendant did not appear in answer to the euinmone.

Detective Feast having proved the service of the summons on defendant personally, Sergeant Macknight deposed to the fact of defendant's having come to the police depot to report tho loss of a horse. Hβ had two dogs wiih him which wero unregistered, and upon b ing called upon to register them he refused to do so.

The Keaident Magistrate fined the defendant £2.

The three prisoners, George Davis, alias Ben tho Dodger, John Weixon, and Charles Lear, were brought up on reaiand, charged with hersestealing. The following evidence was taken :— Garrett Dee deposed that he was a storekeeper at Hokitika. lie had a brother called Charles, and one called Patrick Dee. He saw tho list produced marked A. He missed a mare from Hokitika. He last saw her two months ago. lie had seen her outside the Court She is number 6 on the list A. She belongs to him and his brother. The description is correct. The mare was running

in a place called the " Pn■hl.».-V," a* HnlitiU VVifiiess made enquirir* nb.«ut her niter lie missed her lie valued her at £30 Il> never sold her. or authorised any onj to sell her. Prisoners hud iv authority to take the mure. William John Fitters m beina next sworn deposed that lie was h -torektvper at Hokitifc.i He had seen a hors- outside the Curt today It is number 9 on tlie. \Ut \ »rod»ioed. j» is a hay mare She helon-ed to him. He | n «t caw her ii 11--k. .»• Bernard Filter took her up the river »■» a phrce culled th-» " padlock." It was übout the end ol January last he la*t saw her He h.d not seen her since. He never sold her, nor authorised any one to sell her H-> went up to the " paddock " to look forher, and the mure was gone. He valued her at £40 He never gave prisoner any authority to sell the Robert Frith deposed that he was a storekeeper at the Wairaea. He saw the list produced marked A. Number 8 on the list was one of his horses. He had seen the horse outside the Court It. is his He last 3iiw it übout the end of Tan nary in the " paddork," near ll.>kitiki. He went out in a fortnight, an 1 mi-s-d the horse fl • searched, but foul 1 not find it. He never sold the horse nor authorised tiny one to d.> so H«> spoke to prisoner W.iS'.n nbout the hon-ee and tol I him his horses were in the paddock. He also missed a dorse, which he had not seen since. He Vdluetl the herse in the list A, and now outside the Oo<irt, at £50 Bernard Fi.-her wa* n.xt sworn, and deposed he was a packer at Hokitika He saw f-e list produced, marked A. ITe saw the description of the horses marked 6 and 9. He had seen them outside tl.e Court this morning. He last s*w the horse marked No 6 about the 23rd or 24th of January lust. H" turned I er out at a place called the "naddock •' near Hoktika, at Mr Dee's request B> turned the horse marked No. 9 out in the same place on the 28-h or 29 hof January last. She belonged to Mr Patterson.

Tl'is was all the evidence adduced

Upon the application of Inspector Fender, the prisoners were further remanded to the 6th proximo, for the production of two more witn sees from Hokitika, who it is ascertained I aye identified three more of the stolen horses

The Resident Magistrate asked the Inspector it it was considered necessary to call the witnesses in question, upon which the Inspector replied that they had been summoned to appear at the Resident Magistrate/s Court here next week.

The Resident Magistrate therefore remanded the prisoners to the 6th of April at eleven a.m ; to be brought up earlier if the witnesses arrived from Hokitika.

George Wallace whs brought up in custody, charged with stealing a horse, saddle, and bridle, and a cheque, the property of J. S. Caverhill. of Hawkswood.

The following is the evidence which was adduced: —

Robert Macknight deposed—He was a sergeant of armed police, in Christchurch. He got. the telegram produced last night from Inspector Pender. He went to a house in Colombo street south. li, in a brothel. He arrested prisoner whom he found in bed there. He told him the charge, and cautioned him. He said he bad not stolen the horee ; that he had taken it. and intended to return it again. On the way *o the lock-up prisoner told him where the horse was. He toll him it was at Ladbrook's stables. He told liim he was also charged with stenling a bridle and saddle.and n cheque. He said he knew nothing about the cheque. He got the horse described in the telegram »t, Lnd brook's stables, also the saddle and bridle. They were outside the Court. He cot the cheque produced from Constable. Jeffrey. The cheque is the same as described in the tel.'gram.

William Deakin deposed —He was a groom in Chrisrchurch with John Gay. Prisoner came into the etnble last night with a horse It was about half-past four o'clock. Tt is the horse now outsu'e the Court. It was taken by Sergeant Macknight. Prisoner said he had ridden a lon* way. Robert Beattie deposed —He kept the Warwick hotel. Prisoner came to his place lsat night. He came in about four o'clock He asked him if he could csi.-<h a cheque Prisoner showed him the cheque produced Witness cashed it. He gave him £15 for it He saw prisoner write the name, 'Robert Preaton "on the back of the cheque. He went away and came back and had tea. He went out and came back again, and gave mc £0 to keep for him till morning. He eaid he ha>l a horse, but it was not his. Hβ had hired it he said. He said he came down from the Nelson province By the Court—He had seen the prisoner about a month ago. but did no* know him. The Resident Magistrate told Mr Beattie that he had several times spoken to him when he had been a witness in this Court about the reckless manner in which he cashed eheq> es. and must asjain β-iy that h.) ought to be more careful how be oished cheques for men he did not know. It only led to crime. This was all the evidence produced at pre sent. Inspector Pender applied for a remand for eight ol<-ar days, to allow of the witnesses being present from the Nelson province. The Resident Magistrate remanded the priionere to the 6th of April next, at eleven a.m.