CHIPPING NORTON.

CHADLINGTON PETTY SESSIONS.- Wednesday.

Before Captain Waller (in the chair).

theft of horse-hair by children.

Jessie Watts (12), Charles Pratley (10) and David Steed (10), all of Shipton-under-Wychwood, were summoned for stealing 14ozs. of horse-hair, value 9d., the property of Mr. John Fowler Maddox, on June 19th.

Mr. Maddox said that on the morning of June 19th his carter called his attention to the condition of a number of his horses. He found that the tails and manes of four or five of them had been cut, very much disfiguring them. Thinking the act might have been committed by boys, he sent Mr. Willis, the saddler, and also informed the police. The horse-hair produced was similar to that cut from his horses.

James Alfred Willis, saddler, of Shipton-under-Wychwood, said that Pratley and Steed visited his premises about a fortnight ago. Pratley offered some horse-hair for sale, similar to that produced. Witness asked where he got it from. He said he got it from a field by the brook, off some barbed wire, against which the horses rubbed. Witness noticed that the hair had the appearance of being cut, and refused to buy it.

P.C. Walker stated that he received information from Mr. Maddox, and made inquiries, and found that the three defendants had been seen in one of Mr. Maddox's fields on the 18th. He went to the school and saw them, and asked them how they came by the horse-hair. They all three admitted having cut it from Mr. Maddox's horses. Pratley and Steed said they had hidden the hair in a grass field, and Watts admitted having hidden his at home. Witness made a search and found all three lots. He also examined the horses from which they had been cut.

The defendants pleaded guilty, and elected to be dealt with summarily. They each admitted they had cut the hair for the purpose of selling it. The defendant's parents, who were in court, expressed sorrow for what had occurred, and the boys were dismissed with a caution on paying the costs.