Charge of Horse Stealing.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 563, 29 January 1891, Page 3

Charge of Horse Stealing.

At the Police Court yesterday morning', before the Mayor and Mr Matthewson, a young man named William Cupper was charged with having stolen a horse, the property of Mr Seymour, of Whangara station. Mr R. N. Jones appeared for the defence.

Mr Seymour, sen., deposed that the horse outside the Court was his property, had his brand on, and had not gone out of his lossession with bis permission. His son nformed him that the horse had disappeared from the padaock, and suspicion peing aroused, information was given to the police. He valued the animal at £lO. Charles Henry Seymour, jun., recognised the horse as the property of his father. Ho had seen accused on the Sth, when Capper said he was going bull-hunting with him later on. The paddock gate was then shut, but on the following day he saw the gate open, and the mare alleged to have been stolen wns gone. He bad won a hurdle race with the mare at Pakarae last year; the accused was there at the time. About two months ago accused had asked him to sell the mare. Witness refused —she was his father’s property —and accused said he had better Bell the mare, as he would only steal it from him. Witness could not remember what the conversation was—:hey had several conversations, and on one occasion, he could not say when, accused said the mare could be easily stolen and taken up the coast. He had never .old the mare. To Mr Jones : Had missed the mare on the 9th and told bis laiher on the Sunday that she was gone. He suspected theft On the Saturday. The remarks about stealing the mare were made in a jocular strain, but it was from that that he had suspected the accused. He took another horse when he went bull-hunting. He had not gone near the paddock in which the mare was on his return from bull-hunting. Ahalf caste named Dick Brown was working lor witness’ tai her at the time.

To Sergeant Carlyon : Accused was working for Mr Phelps carting wool from the station. He had come to bis lather on the 8h to ask for a job tor himself and another man.

Duncan McMillan, a blacksmith residing at Ormond, had shod a mare on January 13 h, the accused having brought her. He also brought another one, asking that it be ehod first, as he wauled it; there was no hurry for the mare, and when it was shod it could be put in the paddock ot Mr Law, who would pay for it. He shod the mare, and .ent the boy with jt to Mr Law’s paddock. He understood ilje accused was going to Opotiki on that day, and had seen him pass by the shop. Constable O’Beilly, stationed at Opotiki, gave evidence as to the arrest of accused at Opotiki, Accused, on being asked, said he bad a mare of the description given, which he had purchased for £0 from a half-caste named Dick -Brjwn, and for which he had a receipt. He went and got the mare next morning and told him that the receipt had been destroyed in bis pants that had been washed. He said Brown was well-known down by Seymour’s place. To Mr Jones: Accused made no denial about the mare, and brought it at the hour promised next morning. Dick Bruwo, a young halfcaste working tor Mr Seymour, denied that be bad sold the horse to accused or given him a receipt, To Mr Jones: Had last seen Capper the day after the New Year races at Ormond. He had left Seymour’s on Christmas Day, and did not go ba<k until after the races at the Park. Witness rode many different horses. It was a brown popy chat be rode back to Whangara. During the holidays he bud resided at home, at Makauri. He had never had a pocket book—yes, he used to carry one about, but it was a long time ago. He could not write his patpe. Be stayed away from Whangara so long because there was nothing to do about that time. He had neither sold the horse to Capper, gave any money, or received any receipt. To the Bench : Accused had told him th* mare was a good one, but he never converged wiih him about buying it. lie first knew the mare was lost bn his going back god looking for bis own horse ; he met Charles Seymour, who asked him if be had seen the missing mare, Sergeant Carlyon contended that a i pritna facie ease bad bean made out, and I the accused was committed for trial, the i defence being resorted.