HORSE STEALING

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1641, 14 May 1925, Page 5

HORSE STEALING

YOUNG MAORI GUILTY.

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE.

The young Maori, Charlie Tuhi. who was brought before , the local Court on the Bth hist., on a charge of theft of a horse at Cambridge on October 27th, 1924, the property of one John Oliver, was again brought before the Court yesterday. Messrs S. H. Dunkley and W. C. SaviW, J.sP., were the presiding justices.

Mr E. Thompson acted as interpreter. John Oliver, blacksmith at Tokanui, said he was at Cambridge on October 27th, 1924. He was riding a black gelding that is now in the possession of the te Awamutu police. At about 3.30 p.m. on the date named he tied' the horse in a hotel yard at Cambridge. At about 5.40 p.m.. he returned to the yard and the horse was still there. Just before 6 o'clock witness went to get his horse, but it had disappeared. He reported the loss to the Cambridge police, and also made inquiries throughout the district without being able to recover the horse. He next saw the horse on Sunday, 19th April, wtien wiith Constable Doyle he visited Bockett's Paddock in Te Awamutu. His horse.was there. There was no difficulty in identifying the animal. He was also present when Constable Doyle interviewed the accused on that day. Tuhi said he bought the horse from one Natzke at Wharepuhunga two years ago. Witness valued the horse at £25. • The animal had deteriorated in value since October 27th by 50 per cent. This was diie to the ill-treatment it had received. He gave nobody authority to remove the horse from Cambridge. Did not know accused prior to April 19th. May have seen him, but did not recognise him. Was positive the horse was in accused's possession.

Sam Rangi, labourer at Te Awamutu, said he had known accused Tuhi for several years. In October, 1924. he was living at Te Rahu. Tuhi lived about half a mile away. Identified the black gelding now in the possession of the police as one which Tuhi had brought to Te , Rahu towards the end of 1924. Could not remember the date, but thought it was in November. Tuhi said he bought the horse off Jack Teasdale for £5. Tuhi used the horse for some time, riding and driving, and about Christmas time Tuhi went away to Papakura, leaving the horse in witness' charge. Witness had it for about two months. Tuhi was away all that time, and when he returned about January the horse was taken possession of by Tuhi. Knew nothing about the horse having been stolen from Oliver until the police informed him.

Percival C. Kidd, farmer, at Te Rahu, said last January Tuhi offered to sell a horse to him for £9. Witness declined to buy, as he was short of cash. The horse was the one now in possession of the police, and claimed Oliver. Was positive the horse was identical.

Constable Doyle said the horse reported missing from Cambridge last October was a black gelding valued at £25. He then detailed the facts the police had in their possession re the missing horse 1 up to the time of his arrest of Charlie Tuhi and the seizure of a horse in Tuhi's possession. Tuhi made a statement to the police in which he said he bought the horse for £lB from one Natzke, a storekeeper at Wharepuhunga, about two years ago. Natzke did not give a receipt, though he asked for one. Natzke had said in explanation, "I am an honest man." The vendor and purchaser then drove into Te Awamutu together. The horse was, when purchased, grazing on a farm at Tokanui, and Tuhi later removed it to the domain at Te Rahu.

Continuing, Constable Doyle said when he and Oliver went to a paddock where several horses were grazing Oliver called to the black gelding which at once came to him. Witness was convinced the horse belonged to Oliver. It had been in Tula's possession for some time. Natzke had not lived at Wharepuhunga for the past years. Ttihi, when informed of this, admitted that he had lied and made a fresh statement, wherein he admitted taking the horse from a paddock at Te Mawhai last year.

Tuhi said he would not admit stealing the horse from Cambridge. He got it while working for Jack Teasdale.

Acc'used, on being warned in customary form, elected to plead guilty and he was thereupon committed for sentence at the Supreme Court, Hamilton, on June 9th.