SUPREME COURT.—Civil Sittings.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8759, 22 April 1890, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.— Civil Sittings.

[ Continued from column 7.\

When the beast was clipped I saw an imperfect J M with a half circle over it, [Witneas here put down what he saw]. Jury then got water and soap, and shaved the place with a razor. [Witness here put down what he saw, the brand being more impurfect then]. The coat of the beast is long, and the beast is poor. I had a great opinion of • r Okey until I found out he took my cattle to the best of my belief . I had no ill feeling towards him. I don't think I knew the date 1 bought the cattle from McGregor when giving evidence before the R.M. I have reflected since, and 1 think the date I have now given is correct.

By Mr Samuel : I laid the information on January 2'J, 1890. I had the conversation with Gillespie the same day or a day or two before. There might have been a cattle sale the day before I laid the. information. I generally go to the cattle sale. I could not remember if I was at that cattle sale. I could not tell if I saw Okey the day before the information was laid. My memory is not good about anything. I spoke to Okey the day I laid the charge. I could not say whether it was before or after thn charge, but I believe it was after I laid the charge. Gillespio showed the information to Mr Okey sworn and signed by mo. This was in my presence. I don't think I spoke to Okey about tho charge prior to the laying of the information. At that time 1 charged Okey with stealing 8 steers. I did so because I believed two had been found. I believed that one had been found in Mr Winks' possession, and one in Manson's. The reason I did not see Okey before the information was Jaid was because I had left the whole matter in the hands of the police. I know all the people mentioned in Okoy's letter to Gilleepio, but I did not enquire of them, I know fcisbaft'y, who lives

near Stratford. I had nothing at all to do with him. 1 gave no heed to the letter sent, as I thought Okey was trying to bafflo me. I made no enquiry about the cattle sold by Okey to Manson being sold in a public yard. I did not know when they wore sold, but I was told by neighbors. I did not know they were driven into the yard, and branded when Okey sold them. The first time I heard that it was so was in Court, except that I saw the cattle myself. I knew they were branded, but I did not know where. Vickers told me the cattle were branded by Okey and Allen. I could not say if Vickers was present at the branding. I don't know if Vickers knew my brand P F. I had no communication prior to this meeting with him. I went by the statement that Gillespie made to me, and by what other people told me. I intended to advertise 2 heifers, 1 steer without brand^ and 8 bell branded steers. Mr Seft'ern did not write it down before me. I did not advertise ten steers with bell brand on as it appeared. ' I went to Mr Seft'ern and told him it appeared in wrong wording. I have sold a number of cattle with my brand on, but not with the bell brand on. McGregor had no other steers of tho same age. I don't know if I sold Okey the following lots :—: — December, 1885, £100; January, 1887, £80; February, 1887, £20; February, 1888, £122. I know that I had sold him mobs of cattle ; 60 was tho most lever sold him at one time. {Proceeding as we toent to press.)

Mr F. W. Frankiand, Commissioner of the Government Insurance, leaves for England next month, having accepted a high actuarial position in the Atlas Life and Fire Insurance Office, London.