From Western Post, 5 January 1861 (From what I can gather this is one complete paid advertisement for the purpose of defending himself). ADVERTISEMENT Bunble, May 4th, 1860 Sold this day to Mr. Joseph LAUNT, the brands of all my horses WN under the saddle near side, JK on near shoulder, TS near shoulder, JJ near shoulder, JB near shoulder, IC shoulder, WB near shoulder, NK (conjoined), with the exception of the quiet horses, which can be got in one month from this date, for the sum of four hundred pounds (£400), to paid as follows, - (£100) one hundred pounds down, (£100) one hundred pounds to be paid in twelve months, (£100) one hundred pounds to be paid in eighteen months, and (£100) one hundred pounds in two years' time from this date. Extra brand FF (Signed) William WILSON Witness R L MILLS Police Office, Coonabarabran Wednesday, November 14th, 1860 Present: David WATT, Esq., J.P.,; Edward PARSONS, Esq., J.P. "Joseph LAUNT", of Teridgeree, stands charged with horse-stealing. Pleads not guilty. Defendant and prosecutor "William WILSON", grazier, of Weelalabah, being sworn, deposes - I sold about the 3rd or 4th of May last, a lot of horses to Joseph LAUNT, branded WN WN under the saddle near-side and several other brands besides, according to a written agreement; they were wild horses that I could not yard. I sold them in consequence of not being able to yard them. I made a distinction at the time of selling these horses in the brands between the quiet and wild horses WN on the shoulder near side. Iw as to have a months from the day of sale to remove the "quiet horses". By the Bench. The mare now produced is one of my quiet saddle horses; I am positive the mare now produced was not included among those sold; I have no copy of the agreement or bill of sale: The brand WN under the saddle was excluded from the agreement only verbally, not in writing; I believe the mare was sold, and now in possession of Martin DALY. By Prisoner Do you recollect of selling me the horses? - Yes I do; I intended removing the horses to Port Essington; Did I request you to re-brand the horses? No, nothing of the sort.; I never promised to leave any horses with you excepting those in the agreement; I have seen Richard MILLS since I sold the horses, being the party who wrote out the bill of sale; I told you that I would not go after the wild horses sold to you after the time was expired mentioned in the agreement ; I never made any proposition to "MILLS" to give nine horses if he would appear against you to prosecute ; I saw the mare produced first at Coonabarabran since last in my possession about the 7th of June last at Torowandi. On the 31st October last was the day I allude to as having seen the mare at Coonabarbran. (Signed) William WILSON Witness "Richard MILLS" of Mudgee, being sworn, saith (in reply to "William WILSON) I did draw up an agreement between "Joseph LAUNT" and you about the sale of horses on or about the 3rd or 4th of May last. Prosecutor I recollect the WN brand and four or five others included in the agreement; I do remember there was a distinction made between the quiet and wild horses, "LAUNT" giving you one month to gather and take away the quiet ones; My opinion is that after the expiration of one month all the quiet horses were to be removed by you - after that time all other horses to become the property of "Joseph LAUNT"; you promised me six horses if things went right. By Bench I thought he meant by "things going right" that I was to have six horses for nothing; I think Mr. WILSON said he intended to remove the horses after the end of the month to "Mauger Mellon". Cross examined by prisoner WILSON promised me that he would not touch a horse after the end of the month allowed for the removal of the horses sold; WILSON replied he would not touch any horses after the month, and any found were to be considered the property of "Joseph LAUNT" after the month was out, and which LAUNT would be at liberty to take; I recollect "WILSON" saying to "LAUNT" he had seven or eight "sweaters", good horses that he would leave; He stated also that he would leave some mares that he had found "breeding" which he had brought....."Capiti" and not included in .; WILSON stated that he brought some horses with him from "Capiti" and traveled with them by night; He said they were TJ mares, Sir John JAMIESON's, the best breed in the country; He said he would not remove one cross horse from "Ulamambera" when he left. By Bench WILSON's definition of a "sweater", when I asked him, was, taking the horse of another to use or ride and save his own. (Signed) R S MILLS The agreement referred to was produced in Court, and the brands not being inserted therein relative to the charge. Judgement of the Court - Case dismissed. I hereby certify that these depositions are faithful and true copies of the original ones taken by me in the case of Joseph LAUNT, adjudicated upon as exhibitated. (Signed) Campbell J PEGUS C.P.S. Police Office, Coonabarabran, 15th November 1860. As I am now on my way down to Maitland to commence proceedings for false imprisonment, the public will shortly be put in possession of all the facts of the case, and will at once discover that, when malice is at work, what is my case to-day, may be theirs to-morrow. (Signed) Joseph LAUNT 31st December, 1860. ***END*** Annette Piper Please note: Although every effort has been made to transcribe the above correctly, errors may have inadvertently been made. Spelling is how it appears in original.