A HORSE DEAL LEADS TO TROUBLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7268, 26 October 1910, Page 1

A HORSE DEAL LEADS TO TROUBLE

STOLEN AND TWICE SOLD THE THIEF STILL WANTED BY THE POLICE. Towards Hie end of August last a youth of about nineteen years of ago rode into iPaekakariki on a horse which he seemed ‘somewhat anxious to get rid of. Ho of* fored it at a low figure to a storekeeper, William Kidd by name, but the youth’s huannor awakened Kidd’s suspicions and 'no sale resulted. A little while later the youth, who said his name was "Jeffs/* managed to convince a boardinghouse ■keeper named O’Connell of his title to the horse and sold it to him, saddle and bridle thrown in, for £1 ss. BOUGHT AND SOLD. O’Connell rode the horse about Packaknriki, and Kidd, who first refused ta purchase the animal from "Jeffs/’ made .overtures to O’Connell for a deal. The result was that Kidd bought the horse for XlO. POSSESSION VERY SHORT. Kidd, however, enjoybd possession of the animal for a very short period only, as Detective Kemp turned up at Pao* kaleariki and claimed tlio horse as bn longing to Francis. Simpson, it having been stolen from stable at Petonc., Kidd surrendered the horse, and tho nett results of the deal at this stage were that O’Connell was in profit to the. extent of. X'2 15s plus a saddle and bridle, and Kidd was the loser of .£lO. CASE IN COURT. O’Coimell refused to refund tho purchase money received from Kidd, and the case came up for settlement at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr W. R, Huselden, S.M., when William Kidd, sued T. O’Connell for «£ls, being riSIO, the amount of tlio’purchase money paid for the horse, and c£s damages sms* tained through tho loss of the use of liinr horse. Tho Hon. TV W. Hi slop appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr T.M. Willbrd for the defendant. DEFENDANT LIABLE, THOUGH ACTING IN GOOD FAITH. After hearing evidence, his Worship said it w m plain that "Jeffs” had done all necessary to satisfy an honest man that, ho really owned the horse, and It was clear that O’Connell had purchased the here© from "Jeffs” on tlio strength of the representations made, but it was not a. case in which tho doctrines of equity could be applied. Judgment was given for plaintiff far c£lo, amount paid for the horse, but nq damages wore allowed. Costs amounting to J£3 IBs wore giver against the defendant. , "JEFFS” STILL MISSING. Although exhaustive inquiries have been made, no duo as to tho whereabouts of "Jeffs,” tho author of tho trouble, hasr been found. *