RESISTING A RANGER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2279, 26 August 1908, Page 1

RESISTING A RANGER.

CHARGES AGAINST A NATIVE

Charges .against a Native lor rescuing a horse from a Hanger, and also assaulting him, wore .hoard by .Mr AY. A. Barton, S.AL, in the Magistrato’s Court yesterday morning, when John I). Parsony proceeded against Tuhoo Hnrawoa on the above counts. . . John Dawson Parsons, ranger, said that ho was at tho railway station and saw a horso going on tho lino through a gate in Groy street. He tried to catch the horse, but lulled, and the horso ran out of the gate again. Tho horso then went towards the engine shed, where the engineer helped him to catch the horse. "Witness started to take tho horse to the pound and defendant came up and seized the rope, saying, “Let go, Jack, that is my hoitso.” Witness refused as he said tho horse had been trespassing, and defendant then endeavored to wrest the rope from him. Defendant throw him on the ground three times, and twisted his fingers. Another Native was Standing by and defendant asked him for a knife,.but did hot got'oiio! Ifi consequence of defendant’s treatment witness was eventually compelled to relinquish the ropo and defendant took tho horse away.

To Mr Hoi: Ho caught tho horso about half n chain from defendant’s house. Defendant freed the horso by untying tho rope at tho horse’s neck, and the other end of the rope was in witness’ hand. Ho knew defendant for about fifteen years, and as far as he know ho was a peacable man. Robert Robb, coal merchant, said lie saw informant and a Native, whom lie could not identify. They appeared to be having a rough and tumble, which went on for about fifteen minutes, when he saw the horse getting away. David Hosie stated that he saw the informant with a halter round tho horse’s neck between the engine shed and the house. Ho also saw informant and defendant apparently scuffling for possession of tho horse, and he next saw defendant with the horso in his possession. For the defence Take Kerokero said that ho saw informant leading defendant’s horse away. He called out to him to Mop, but lie would not do so. Defendint then came along and asked informant to leave the horse, as he had taken it illegally. Informant refused to give it up as ho said he had found it on tho railway line. Defendant endeavored to untie tho rope at the animal’s nock, but did not interfere with informant. Evidence was also given by Moan a Tautau. who said that tho horso was locked up in the paddock all night, but got outside early in the morning and grazed about. He saw defendant trying to get possession of the horse, but did not see any violence used.

Tuhoo Harawera also gave evidence as to the fact of informant taking the horse and refusing to give- it up. Informant told him that lie found the horse on the road. He had no scuffle with informant, but tried to

undo the rope from tho horse’s neck. His Worship said that ho was satisfied that the horso in question was. legally seized by the that defendant had rescued itv-'There was no evidence to show that the horso was not on the railway line, and not only did defendant rescue the horse, but it was apparent that the informant had been roughly handled by defendant. Defendant was found guilty of both charges, and for rescuing the horse was fined £2 with £1 9s costs. A similar penalty was inflicted in the assault case with £1 7s costs-