COURT OF PETTY SESSIONS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 5, 28 September 1878, Page 2

COURT OF PETTY SESSIONS.

Waipawa, September 26. (Before J. Lawrence, Esq., J.P. (Chairman) ; R. Harding, Esq., J.P.; and H. H. Bridge, Esq., J.P.) Horse Stealing. Andrew Taylor was charged, on the information of Sergeant with stealing at Waipawa, on the 21st September, a horse, the property of Mr. John Hunter Boivard, of Waipukurau. J. H. Boivard deposed that he was the owner of the horse in question, which he had lent to Mr. Brabazon on Sunday, the 15th inst. Witness did not know the prisoner. and did not authorise him to take the Witness identified the animal in the Court yard, which he had owned for ' three years and a halfSamuel Brabayon, a fencer, residing at Waipukurau, deposed to bringing the horse to Waipawa on Saturday last, and placing him in the yard of Kelly's Imperial Hotel. That was about two o’clock. On returning between four and five, the horse was missing. From the description he gave, Mr Hobson said he believed the horse was stolen, as he had seen a man catch the horse and ride away with it. On Sunday he gave information to Sergeant MeuGire. On Monday morning he found the horse with the saddle and bridle on it.

Thomas Hobson, stock manager for MiRath bone, stated tliat on Saturday afternoon he was going home in company with Mr Carpenter. They saw the prisoner walking- after a horse with a saddle and bridle on. Witness asked prisoner if he would stop the horse. He said “ yes.” Prisoner then caught the horse and rode away in the direction of Napier. Previous to that the prisoner stated, in reply to a question, that the horse belonged to him. lie identified the horse in the yard as the one prisoner was riding. He believed the prisoner was intoxicated ; but lie got on the horse without any assistance. W. L. Carpenter, clerk in the Bank of Australasia, identified the prisoner as the man who was riding the horse on Saturday afternoon. Mr Carpenter’s evidence corroborated that given by the previous witness.

John Carter, residing at Richmond Park, stated he saw the prisoner riding a horse at Richmond Park on Saturday afternoon. The prisoner appeared to have had too much drink, and was falling off the horse. R. F. Cuthbert deposed to the prisoner calling at the Kaikora Hotel on Saturday about eight o’clock. He did not know whether the prisoner rode up or uot. John Allanach, publican, of Te Aute, saw the prisoner there about eight o’clock, but could not say whether the prisoner arrived on horse I ack. He seemed in a hurry, as he said he had to catch the steamer foi Dunedin on Sunday morning. The prisoner seemed rather excited.

David McGuire, Sergeant in the Armed Constabulary, deposed that on Sunday afternoon he got a description of the man from Mr Ilobson, and he concluded that he was a man named Taylor, who had come down from Kopua a day or two previously, lie tracked the prisoner to the Commercial Hotel, Spit, where he arrested him in bed at daylight on Monday morning.

This concluded the evidence, and the prisoner, after receiving the usual caution from the Bench, made the following statement : —I left Waipawa on Saturday afternoon, with the*intention of walking to Napier. I was very drunk at the time. After I left Waipawa, I met a horse with saddle and briddle on coming to me on the road. I expected lie .had an owner behind, and I tried to stop him, but could not manage it, Just as the horse passed me, I saw two men, who asked me if they should stop him. I said “ Yes.” He was caught amongst us. Ido not know how or by whom. I got on the horse, and rode him back the road he came. I had not been long on the horse before I forgot all about it. I came to myself when I was very wet on the road side. While I came to myself I dismounted, and left the horse there. I do not know whereabouts I was, as I am a stranger on the road. I trevelled on looking for a publichouse, and found one at last. I then walked on to Clive, and arrived there on Sunday morning at half-past eight. The prisoner was then committed to take his trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court at Napier. Affiliation Case. A young man, named Ingram, was bronght up, charged witli having failed to pay an order of the Court for the support of his illegitimate child. The defendant paid the arears, and offered to find sureties for future poyments. There was only one civil case heard, that of Morrison v. Rimlose, for a refund of excessive demands for trespass. Judgment wss given for £1 2s, and costs of Court.