THEFT OF A HORSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2314, 6 October 1908, Page 2

THEFT OF A HORSE.

ACCUSED ADMITTED TO PROBATION. At the Police Court yesterday morning, before Air. W. A. Barton, S-M-, the young man, Victor Mumi, who, last week, •'pleaded guilty to the theft of a horse at Te Aria, was brought up for sentence. - Air.' W. L. Rees appeared on behalf of accused, asking that as the report of the probation officer was favorable, accused might receive tlie benefit of the Prohibition Act. His* Worship said that lie had read the probation officer’s report and found it to be favorable. He had had some doubt as to the wisdom of admitting the accused 'to probation especially as ho had read a letter from the owner of the horse stating that accused had told him he had bought tlie horse for £lO and asked tlie owner to refund him £5 of that amount. Accused had also forged a receipt tor the hoi-se, which wax in itself a very serious offence. “However,” continued His Worship, “The Act is a very good one indeed in some cases, and I have a very great objection to send a first offender to prison unless the offence is a very bad one. On further consideration I have decided that you shall be admitted to probation, under the usual conditions for 12 calendar months.!’