CATTLE STEALING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 142, 15 June 1917, Page 6

CATTLE STEALING.

KEYES FOUND GUILTY, (From Oar Own Correspondent* HAMILTON, Thursday. In the Supreme Court this morning, before his Honor Mr. Justice Cooper, Harold Keyes was arraigned with tho theft of cattle valued at £196, the property of Ewen McGregor; 13 head of cattle, valued at £129, the property o£ Ewen McGregor; and one cow, valued at £9, the property of Herbert Cuffc. Prisoner was also arraigned on three charges of "receiving" the said cattle knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. Mr. Gillies conducted the prosecution, and prisoner was again not represented by counsel. The case occupied the attention of the Court all day, the evidence adduced being on identical line— to that given in the Lower Court, which has been already published.

In cross-examining Davis, McGregor's manager, prisoner asked him if he (Davis) had ever sold him (prisoner) any cattle, and received an emphatic denial, witness stating that he had never sold any beasts without the cognisance and approval of McGregor.

For the defence prisoner called two witnesses —H. Green, stablekeeper afc Frankton Junction, and Mr. Hayward, local manager for the Loan and Mercantile Co. The former said that on the Ist March he had seen prisoner driving some cattle. Prisoner had the use of a section owned by witness for the purpose of paddocking stock. Anyone could see the cattle in this section.

The second w-itnees gave evidence ii regard to a balance of £8 due to prisoner, and in regard to a dispute over two cows alleged to have been the property of Mr. McGregor, and sold by prisoner.

During the course of a statement prisoner alleged that he purchased cattle from Mr. Davis, manager for Mr. —1 cGregor, on January 10, February 6, and February 10—49. head in all. Prisoner said that as he had been drawn in tho ballot, and was preparing to go into camp, he had destroyed all his receipts and papers. He had sold the cattle which he alleged he had purchased from Mr. Davis. Two of the receipts which he had received from Mr. Davis had been destroyed with his other papers. Prisoner went on to allege that he had paid £147 to Mr. Davis for the 33 head of cattle, £91 for the 14 head, and £5 odd for the two heifers. Mr. Davis would not take his cheque, and prisoner paid him in cash. In reply to Mr. Gillies, prisoner admitted certain previous convictions against him.

Mr. Davis, recalled, absolutely denied having sold any cattle whatever, to prisoner. There was no truth in his statement,- and he had never given any receipts to prisoner.

After a retirement of thirteen minute* the jury returned a verdict of guilty on all counts.

FIVE TEARS' HARD LABOUR. |

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. Kayes was brought up for sentence this morning. His Honor referred to the serious nature of the charges, prisoner (who admitted previous convictions) having been found guilty of wholesale thefts of McGregor's cattle. His Honor imposed a sentence of five years' hard labour on each charge, to run concurrently.