PECULIAR CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 91, 18 April 1890, Page 4

PECULIAR CASE.

ALLEGED THEFT OF -HIDES.

lukcas Harold Stevens and Roger Lup' ton were charged at the Police Court this forning with bavin? on the 31st of March Molcn 7 hides, valued at £12, the same king the property of Messrs Ireland Bros. 1 There wa3 also a second charge against the accused of having stolen two hides, folued at £4, also the property of Messrs Ireland Bros.

. Messrs F. G. Clayton, W. Lodder, and Sir William Fox were the presiding Justices. IMr T. Cotter appeared for the prosecution, Mr E. Hesketh for the defendant Stevens, and Mr Theo. Cooper for Lupton. '.■• Mr Cotter stated that the case was a jjeculiar one, in fact, he believed it was the firstoneof the kind brought bofore the Court lere. Hoexplaiuod thabfcheaccusedStevens jas in the employ of Messrs Ireland Bros. is weigher of hides. It was his duty to go tound the slaughter-houses and collect the nides. Mr Lupton was a slaughterman at tho City Abattoirs, and it was illeged that large hides collected from Holiaby's slaughter, house had been exchanged for some smaller hides it tho City Abattoirs, the two accused beiDg presumably connected in the matter. Mr Catter further explained that although Vleears Hellaby had a brand on their hides, die accused Lupton possessed as a brand a plotch that might be convenient for cover* Ing other hides.

Detective Hughes deposed to arresting iStevens, who said there must be some misitake. Witnoss secured the hides and 'marked them. There was a brand of H smudgod over. Witness hlso arrested Lupton, who turning to. a man named Piko said, "Do you remember smudging that brand for me !" Pike said he did not.

Mr Richard Hellaby, of the firm of Hellaby Bros., butoners, deposed that their private slaughtoC'houao was situated at Richmond. Their "brand was the letter H. Witness re» membered buying in March larger cattle tuan usual. Some were as large os 1,500 and a half. All his hides were sold to Messrs Ireland Bros. He had seen the hides in question, and should judge that they came off thou-sand-pound beftsts. 'Witness had sold bullocks to Lupton, but not his large one. Hβ had sold large bullocks a couple of months ago to Briggs, in Ponsonby. Each bullock was branded with a tar brand at tho sa'.eyards when knocked down to witness.

Witness was cross-examined at considerable length. James tike deposed that he was In the employ of last witness. He was present at tbe sale when Mr Hellaby bought five large Witness branded these bullocks. These bullocks were taken by him to Hellaby's slaughterhouse, where they were killer!. The hides were delivered to Mr Ste,venß.

By Mr Cooper : He did not see the bullocks killed, but he put them in the pen, and they did not come out again. He did not see tho carcases skinned. Hβ could not swear that tbe hides were the same as those in. tho care of the police. He, would swear thac it was the samo colour of bullock and tho same brand H.

Thero were still twelve witnesses to give evidence when we went to press, co that in all probability the case will not bo finished to-day. f