THEFT AT HINDS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 91, 27 January 1928, Page 5

THEFT AT HINDS

FARMER FINED £5.

TROUBLE OVER PLOUGH PARTS. THE CONCLUDING EVIDENCE. In the Magistrate’s Court this morning, Mr C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., continued the hearing of the case commenced last Friday, in which Thomas Muckle, a farmer, of Hinds, pleaded not guilty to a. charge of having stolen two plough skeiths, the property or W. J. B. McDowell, of Hinds. Accused was represented by Mr u. C. Nicoll, and stated that he had purchased the skeiths, produced m Court, from a local firm. The firm s representative, however, stated that tne skeiths had not been sold by his firm. The case was adjourned last week to allow accused’s material witness who had declined to attend the Court that day. , , Mr Nicoll said lie was prepared to go on with the case. He submitted that circumstances were open to an explanation, suggesting the entry of a third person. The owner had stated in €-vidence that lie could not swear to the couplings and skeiths, which was a significant factor. ~ , , _ In the box, Muckle said that on December 6 the skeiths produced were found on his plough. He told the police that he purchased them from Reid and Gray, Ltd., on September 26, and he produced the account for them. He worked with them for several days at a farm, and then left them there for some time. When he wanted, them he took them to his own place and attached them to his own plough. They were the ones. produced, as far as he knew. The set screws.out of the shanks he had with him.

To the Senior-Sergeant: He had unscrewed them about the beginning of December. To the Magistrate: He was almost certain that the skeiths taken to his place were his own. The transposition must have taken place on his farm, but he did not know why anyone should remove nearly new skeiths and replace them with skeiths almost equally new. Mr Nicoll said he had no further evidence to call.

The Magistrate said lie was satisfied the skeiths belonged to McDowell, and 1 lie was satisfied that accused took them.

A fine of £5, in default 14 days’ imprisonment, was imposed, and accused was ordered to pay 37s 6d costs and witnesses’ expenses.