THEFT OF PIGS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 144, 20 August 1941, Page 5

THEFT OF PIGS

OPOTIKI MAORI CHARGED

SOLD AT MONTHLY SALE

At the Opotiki Police Court before Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., Waea T'e Hau faced charges of stealing five pigs, the property of Jack Taka. valued at £1 Is 6d each, and also one pig, the property of Colin Connelly, valued at 12s 6d. Tlie offence* were alleged to have occurred en luly 21.

Accused pleaded guilty t<7 both iharges, electing to be dea'tl AA T ith

summarily.

Sergeant J. Isbister, conducting the case on behalf of the police, stated that about a month ago Contieliy and Taka missed, the pigs. They found in defendant's stv. and as Taka Avas away at the time they said nothing to him. They later saAV them at the saleyards, and IntervieAved the agents, telling them that they had no objection to the pigs being sold, but expected to be paid the money. Later Avhen defendant called on the stock agent to collect the money, the agent refused at first to pay it over. Defendant, however, succeeded in bluffing the Hgent into believing that the pigs were his, and the money. Avas paid but. The rightful owners made complaint on the'following day, and when accused Avas intervieAvcd he eventually admitted the theft of the pigs. Accused had not previously been before the court on a charge of dishonesty. Some of the money had been paid back to the owners.

A line of £5 was imposed on the {irst charge and £2 on the second charge, and an order for restitution of the balance of £-1 17s Gd was made.