RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, CLYDE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1368, 1 June 1888, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, CLYDE.

Saturday, May 26th, 1888.

(Before W. Fraser and A.A. Oliver, J.’s P.) James Taylor, afios James Stewart (17 years), and James Reid (16 years), two respectable looking lads, were brought up and charged with the larceny of a bridle from the Little Valley Station on the Uth iust. j on a second charge for stealing a horse and cover from tho paddock of Robert Lett_ near Alexandra South on the same evening ; and on a third charge of stealing a saddle from Crossan s Hotel, Bald Hill Flat on tho 12th inst.

Mr R. Gilkison appeared for the accused Roid the other accused being unrepre seated.

The charge for the larceny of the bridle was called first, to which Mr Gilkison (for Kcid) pleaded not guilty ; Taylor pleading guilty. Before the evidence was taken Mr Inspeo tor. Hickson asked that evidence in all the oases bo taken before judgment was given —This was agreed to, Thomas Davidson deposed : Ho was a shepherd on Galloway Station, but living at Little Valley. The bridle produced is the property of the station. On the morning of the 11th I missed it It was in my charge, and I gave no one authority to remove it. I value it at ten shillings. John Jones, coal merchant. Coal Creek. Teviot sworn, deposed : The two accused passed my place on the 12th inst. The accused Reid offered me a dog for sale. »-iying they had no money to buy bread with. I gave him two shillings for the dog. I said as you are so hard up I will give you 30a. for tho old horse. Reid said his father had bought it in Invercargill and he would not take £0 or l? for it. On the Monday following, tho 14th inst., the accused Taylor came hack and said ho would take 30s for tho hoise, as they had got a job of rabbiting on Teviot Station for tho winter. 1 bought the horse, saddle and bridle for 25s ami gave my cheque for the amount. The bridle produced is the one I bought. Cross-examined by Mr Gilkison: Reid sold me the dog. Taylor was riding the horse when I first saw them.

I'olice Constable Pool deposed to the arrest of the accused, and to the bridle produced being the same as he obtained from the witness Jones.

On the charge of horse stealing, Robert Lott deposed : tie was a carter and resided near Alexandra. I have a paddock near my house. On theeveningof the 11th hist I went to the paddock to°see after the rabbit traps and if the horses were all right. The chestnut gelding now in question was there then and had a cover on, and the paddock gate was secure I saw the two accused outside the paddock; they asked me for the main road to Alexandra. I told them and asked them what brought them there at that time of night. They said they had been to the station. It was grey dark at the time. By the general appearance of the accused they are the same. About 9 p.m. the same I again visited the paddock, the slip rails were down and the horse and cover were gone. On the following Monday I gave information to the police, in the meantime haring searched well for it. The horse in the police stables is my property, and 1 value it at £lO. The horse cover I found in a cave amongst some rocks where the accused told me they had placed it. By Mr Gilkison : I cannot recognise the accused except by their general appearance. I could only see that they had dark clothes on. The accused were in the Police Camp, Clyde on the 19th inst. when they told me where to find the horse cover. Albert H. White, laborer at Mr Jones’ coal pit, deposed : I saw the accused on the 12th inst. on the road between Bald Hill Flat and Coal Creek. They were both riding the chestnut horse now in the police stables. The accused Taylor asked me how far it was to Coal Creek. On the following Monday. Taylor come to the Coal Pit and said to Mr Jones he could have the horse for 30s. Mr Jones offered him 25s for the turn out, and I assume he purchased it, having seen it in his possession afterwards. I had previously seen both accused on the oth and 7th inst. They were then going up country.

By Mr Gilkison ■ Taylor in offering the horse for sale treated it as his own ; he did not mention his mate s name.

John Jones gave similar evidence as in the first case .adding that the accused signed the receipt in the name of James Stewart. Further, that on enquiry by Police Constable Pool about a stolen horse, he handed over to him the horse, saddle and bridle he purchased from Taylor, and further, went with ttie Constable in search of the accused and was present when they were arrested.

John Waiter Gold worthy, agent of the Bank of Now Zealand, Roxburgh, deposed to the accused Taylor cashing the cheque given by Jones in payment for the horse and saddle and bridle. Police-Constable Pool stationed at Roxburgh deposed to the arrest of both accused at a hut on Teviot Station.

Same accused wore charged with the larceny of a saddle from Crossan's Hotel. Bald Hill Flat, on the 12th inst The accused Taylor pleaded guilty ; Mr Gilkisnn for Reid pleaded not guilty. Hugh Crossan, hotelkeper, Bald Hill Flat, deposed : He missed a saddle from his stable on the 12th inst. ; that he never gave any person authority to remove it. and that the one produced is the one he lost The Bench asked if there was anything known of the two accused Mr Inspector Hickson said the parents of both were respectable people, and were much distressed at the position of their boys

The Bench said it was a distressing tiling to see two young lads in the position they were ; though the accused Taylor only pleaded guilty to the charges of larceny, they had no doubt but both were implicated equally with those charges as with the horse stealing. On the charges of larceny both accused would he convicted and placed upon probation in terms of the * First Offenders' Probation Act ” ; and committed to take their trial at the next Criminal Sessions at Dunedin in July. On the question of hail the Bench said they would accept the father of each accused, and two others in the sum of LSO each.