SHEEP BRANDS DEFACED.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14980, 9 June 1914, Page 2

SHEEP BRANDS DEFACED.

v CRAYTHORNE FINED £10

In the Amberley Court yesterday, before Mr T. A. B. Bailoy, S.M., C. R. Craythorne, who was before the Supreme Court at Christchurch recently, in connexion with, two charges of siieep stealing, pleaded guilty .to a charge of having, on or about July, 1913. at Broomfield, defaced the brands of two sheep not belonging to him. Under the Stock, Act the penalty provided is a fine not exceeding £50 and not less than £5 for each head of stock in respect of which such an offence has been committed, or at the discretion of the, Magistrate, a penalty of two years' imprisonment with hard labour may be imposed. Chief-Detective Bishop said that the accusod would not appear, but he had written a letter to the Magistrate pleading guilty. Craythorne had, the j Chief-Detective continued, been convicted at the last Supreme Court sitr tings of the theft of these two cheep, but the present charge -was separate and distinct from the other one. The Legislature had made provision for severe penalties for this class of offence, and he asked the Magistrate to inflict a heavy penalty in this case It was well known that sheep stealing was prevalent all over the Dominion, but; especially co in Canterbury, and when a case was detected he thought some penalty should be inflicted. Had it not been for the fact that Craythorne had been convicted before the Supreme Court he would have asked for a very substantial penalty. The Magistrate said he would fine accused 40s on each charge of defacing the two sheep. Chief-Detective Bishop pointed out that the minimum penalty, was £5 per head. • The Magistrate thereupon imposed a total fine of £10, without costs.