HORSE-STEALING CHARGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18709, 15 May 1924, Page 5

HORSE-STEALING CHARGES.

ONE MAN FOUND GUILTY. TWO OTHERS ACQUITTED. The case in which Clyde P. Lndwig (Mr. Singer), Walter Barraclough (Mr. Mason), and Percy McGilvray (Mr. Sullivan), were charged with having taken 15 horses from Otaua, near Waiuku, on September 26, 1923, was continued in trie Supreme Court yesterday, before Mr. Justice Hordman. Constable Doyle, of Te Awamutu, said that when arrested by him. Ludwig said, " I was expecting this. In fact, I was thinking of giving myself up," When charged with the theft of . Grimmor's horse, he asked, "Only one? What about the others?" - Sergeant Fearnley, of Te Kuiti, said that some days after McQilvray's arrest he made a confession of his guilt, in writing, implicating himself and Barraclough and Ludwig. No evidence was offered for the defence. Mr. Mason, at the conclusion of the case for the Crown, asked the Court to withdraw. from the jury the charge against Barraclough. - , His Honor refrained from taking this course, though he indicated his view that the evidence was not sufficient to support the conviction of Barraclough. Later, in his address to the jury, he repeated that the evidence was too slender to justify them in finding him guilty. There could, His Honor pointed out, be no doubt that the horses had been taken from Otaua to Otorohanga by Ludwig and McGilvray, and placed at the back of Ludwig's farm. McGilvray, it was clear, had not come into the matter until the driving operations from Pukokohe began. After about two hours' consideration the jury returned to Court with a verdict acquitting Barraclough and McGilvray and finding Ludwig guilty with a strong recommendation to mercy. Sentence on Ludwig was deferred. -