AN IMPUDENT THEFT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1012, 2 November 1917, Page 5

AN IMPUDENT THEFT.

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE, Tin l story of an impudent theft was recounted at the Magistrate's Court this morning, when a man named David Carter, who has earned some notoriety in these districts by passing himself off as a telegraph inspector, was charged with the theft, of a. horse, gig. and harness, valued at £23, the property of .Mrs Ann Cornford, of Bunnythorpe. the theft being committed on April 30th last. Messrs A. J. Graham and G. 11. Bennett., J.P 's, were on the Bench. THE EVIDENCE. Detective-Sergeant Quirke prosecuted, and stated that the facts were briefly that, accused resided for some time with Mr and Mrs Cornford, at. Bunnythorpe. lie often look tic use of Mrs Cornford's horse ami gig, and finally disposed of it for £ll. Annie Cornford, wife of William Joseph Cornford, farm manager, formerly of Bunnythorpe, gave evidence that she first, met accused at Kairanga in January, 1917. Accused said he was a returned soldier and a drover, and was living in a wharo a! Karere. lie also said he was going to leave, the whare, and wanted a place to board. A little later, in March, accused came to Bunnythorpe ami resided for some time with witness, and her husband. He paid the first, three weeks' board. Witness recognised a horse and gig and harness in the possession of the police as her property, and which accused had the use of about April 30. 1917. Accused had been in the habit, of borrowing the horse and trap whenever he wanted if. About April 30. accused came back to the house and said he had sold the horse, gig, and harness for £ll, ami that a Mr Durie had bought, it. Accused brought back a much better gig, which he said witness could have in exchange for the other one. lie also had another horse and harness. Next dav he went off "on n military duty" with the horse, gig, and harness, and did not. return. Witness had not seen him from that lime till to-day. Accused did not give witness th" purchase money he said he received for the horse, gig, and harness, ami had no authority to dispose of witness's property. I Charles Durie, labourer, Aorangi, stated that he saw accused on April 29, and the re. ceipt (produced) was given hint by accused for the purchase of a horse, gig, and harness. Witness paid accused £ll for the turilout. The arrangements were made for the purchase the day before the receipt was given. Accused said lie would leave the horse, gig. and harness at a certain place at Aorangi, and witness went there and got it. lie did not say who owned tin l property, but witness, understood accused was the owner. Detective-Sergeant Quirke stated that about 9.20 this morning he charged accused with the present offence, and he answered : "I will plead guilty." 'Accused pleaded guiltv, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. FURTHER. CHARGE. Accused was then further charged with, on July 8, 1917, at Napier, he did forge the name of F. Donovan to a receipt for £27 3s Sd. ; Detect.ive-Sergt. Quirke applied for a,' remand io Napier on Tuesday next, which j < was granted.