CHEAP TRAVELLING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 886, 1 February 1930, Page 1

CHEAP TRAVELLING

TOOK HORSES WITHOUT PERMISSION TWO BROTHERS FINED Shirking the five-mile walk to the railway station, two brothers who were leaving the scene of a scrub-cut-ting contract in the Whakatane district, borrowed two horses that they found already saddled at the side of the road. They were each fined £5 at the Police Court this morning by Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M. Thomas Rhind, aged 27, and Francis John Rhind, aged 20, both labourers, pleaded guilty to converting to their own use, at Te Telco, on Thursday, two horses, saddles and bridles of a total value of £lO, the property of Rangi Vercoe. Thomas Rhind also admitted the theft of an overcoat valued at 15s, belonging to Vercoe. According to Chief-Detective Hammond the young men had been scrubcutting at Te Teko, five or six miles from the railway line. The contract not being profitable, they had left for the city. On the road they saw the horses and, having a fair quantity of gear to carry, rode them to the railway station. They tried to drive their borrowed mounts in the direction of home, but were unsuccessful, as the horses were found tied to a fenceThomas Rhind had taken the coat with him, and was found with it when the two brothers were arrested on the arrival of their train in the city. The coat had been tied to the saddle. “They are hard-working young fellows, and it is their first appearance before the court,” added the chief-dtective. “The Maori owner got his horses back and we have the coat here.” Accused had nothing to say except that Thomas Rhind explained he had taken the coat by mistake. It had not been- fastened to the saddle, and it was only when he attempted to put it on that he found it did not belong to him. Both accused were fined £5, in default 21 days’ imprisonment. Thomas Rhind was also fined £5 for the theft. They were given 14 days to pay, Francis Rhind being ordered to pay over the £5 which was found in his possession when he was arrested.