Horse- and Cattle-stealing.

New Zealand Police Gazette, Volume XVII, Issue 10, 17 May 1893, Page 81

Horse- and Cattle-stealing.

Hawera. —John Hunter and John Syliskie are charged on warrants with having, on or about the 20th February last, at Manaia, stolen twenty-eight head of cattle, the property of H. W. Read. Hunter is supposed a native of Australia, about thirty-five years of age, about sft. llin. high, cleanshaved except brown moustache, brown hair, stout and well built, a good horseman, fond of drink; dressed in a darktweed coat and vest, light-tweed trousers, and soft black-felt hat; carried a stockwhip across his shoulder, under his coat; has a revolver. Syliskie is a Frenchman or Pole, twentyfive or twenty-six years of age, 6ft. lin. or 2in. high, slight slop build, very dark, resembles a half-caste, dark hair and moustache only; dressed when last seen the same as Hunter. Both ride black ponies, and were at Marton on the sth instant. Offenders are the ringleaders of a notorious gang of horse- and cattle-thieves, four of whom are already in custody, and the arrest of these two is of great importance. They will no doubt endeavour to leave the colony.

(See Police Gazette, 1893, page 46.)

Auckland.— Stealing John Shields’s gelding: Thomas Atkinson Heaps is now suspected of this offence, he having, on the 13th February last, placed an animal answering the description given in Joseph Whitley’s stable, Union Street, and took it away two days later. Suspect is a jockey, sixteen or seventeen years of age, sft. lin. or 2in. high, medium build, sallow complexion. Supposed to be cither at Gisborne or in the Dargaville District.

Kamo (Auckland). — Pomari Kingi, Ruatangata, reports stolen, about the 20th ultimo, a light-bay colt, hack breed, unbroken, two years old, branded BO on off shoulder, small white streak down face ; value £6.

Taradale (Napier). —Edward Higgins, Moteo, reports stolen from Mr. Cunningham’s yard, in Napier, during an evening in September last, a black gelding, aged, about 15 hands high, hind fetlocks white, Roman nose, branded T in U on near rump; value £8: also an old saddle with new

knee-pads, seat scratched by a spur, and LH supposed to be scratched on the inside of the flaps ; value £2. The horse is said to have been seen at Hastings on the Ist ultimo, ridden by a young man carrying a swag.

Waverley. —David S. Taylor, Kohi, reports stolen from a paddock near the Commercial Hotel, Waverley, on the Ist instant, a bright baj r gelding, four years old, nearly 16 hands high, hind feet white, white streak down face, branded P (blotched and resembling a bar) on near shoulder; value £l4. Supposed to have been taken by John and Murdie McLean (now in custody for cattle- and horse-stealing at Hawera), and sold with other stolen animals at the Marton Yards on the sth instant.

Marton. —lToni Waitere, Turakina, reports stolen, during the night of the 29th ultimo, a white gelding, hack breed, aged, 15£ hands high, branded J-P E on rump, unshod, value £5 ; a double-reined bridle, with snaffle-bit, value £1; a pair of brown-leather leggings, value 7s. 6d.; a pair of trousers, and a rug. The latter articles were found by the Masterton Police in possession of William Simmons, alias George Osmon, who has been sentenced to two months’ labour by the Wanganui Bench. Offender states he turned the horse adrift at Otako, near Bulls ; but no trace of it can be obtained. The bridle and leggings are also still missing.

Bulls. —John Button, carter, reports stolen, on the 30th ultimo or Ist instant, a bay gelding pony, aged, 14£ hands high, one fore and both hind fetlocks white, branded CH on near shoulder, white blaze down face, broken knees, scar under off forearm ; value £7.