MAGISTERIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2954, 13 September 1882, Page 2

MAGISTERIAL.

TIMARU—THIS DAY. (Before T. Hall and E. Elwortby, Esqs., and Dr. Fisher.) cattle stealing. ’ ' Bridget Leonard Ryan was charged with stealing a heifer, left on her land to graze, the property of J. McCormick, The Inspector of police prosecuted, and Mr H. L. Forster appeared on behalf of the accused. The following evidence was taken : J. McCormick, laborer, Woollcombe’s Gully, deposed to the ownership of the heifer.

John Denneby, farmer, said accused had offered him the heifer for £L5s. Afterwards, she said he might have the heifer for £l, and he. gave her the £l. He took the heifer accordingly.

To Mr Forster—l bud two cows of my own grazing there. I have no receipt for the £l, nor for the £2 Ipaid for the furniture. Accused did' not say, in the presence .of the station master at Timaru, that this would pay for the grazing. I often buy cattle without any writing. I do not acknowledge owing £1 for grazing. I owed some 10s only, by agreement with accused’s husband.- [Witness was here questioned by counsel,, the Bench and the Inspector with the view of eliciting some information as to the time for which he was indebted for grazing, but he appeared to be quite unable to give the slightest ■information on this point;] i'J-' ; Austin Kirby, detective, stationed at Timaru, said he had arrested accused yesterday in North street on the warrant (produced). She said she knew nothing about it (the charge). Mr Forster said the question was, did Mrs Ryan sell the heifer for £1 to Denriehy ? Was there any evidence of this beyond the assertion of the witness himself? Dennehy contradicted himself in certain particulars, and there was not sufficient to build, the charge upon. The £1 was certainly paid for grazing. Accused made’a statement, strongly denying the sale.’ After prolonged consideration, the Bench dismissed the case, the evidence being insufficient.