THE CATTLE AND HORSESTEALING CHARGES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2437, 27 May 1893, Page 2

THE CATTLE AND HORSESTEALING CHARGES.

Friday, Mat 26.

i On the Court resuming at 8 o'olook last evening, Mr Barton said he had, sioce tbe adjournment, considered the question as •to whether he would tender as evidence the alleged statement by Young, and he had also considered bis friend's objection op the supposed grouud of influence. As His Worship was aware, the cases upon the question as to what amounted to influence were somewhat conflicting, and supposing that tbe Court did admit the statement upon the evidence that came before it, it would be quite possible, or rather, quite conceivable, that the Supreme Court a>ight exclude it. Tbat might work a hardship to the accuaed, and be bad no desire to do anything which might operate prejudicially to them in their trial hereafter. In this case, at all events, and probably in all the five cases relating to the horse-stealing — in which, he apprehended, there was quite sufficient evidence to warrant a committal — he did not propose to bring forward the statement. There was only one case in which he might ask the Court to admit it, and the occasion might not arise even in that. He might hold the statement until the Supreme Court sittings, and the Supreme Court would then deoide as to whether it was admissible or not. He would, therefore, close the case for the prosecution. The ancused reserved their defenoe, and were committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth.

At His Worship's suggestion, counsel agreed tbat the question as to whether the trials should take place at New Plymouth or Wanganui should be held over until all the charges were heard, when the most convenient place of the two for tbe witnesses in the various cases could be obosen.

Bail was allowed, each of the accused in bis own recognisance of £250, and two sureties of £500 each (or four sureties of £250 each).

On the other charges, Mr Barton expressed his willingness to accept the accused's own recognisances, and that course was adopted. In regard to Mr Fitzherbert's application that tbe bonds of tbe sureties might, in the case of tbe McLeans, be signed at Marton before justices, His Worship said it was necessary that he himself, as tbe presiding magistrate, should be satisfied as- to the sureties. The names of tbe proposed sureties might, however, be handed to Mr Barton, counsel for the prosecution, at once, and if tbe enquiries made were satisfactory, the sureties could be accepted. His Worship announced that Major Tnke would conduct tbe remainder of tbe oases.

Accused were then remanded till Monday at 2 p.m.

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