SHEEP STEALING ALLEGED

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21512, 29 June 1935, Page 19

SHEEP STEALING ALLEGED

$ TWO MEN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL TIIIIITY-SEVEN WITNESSES HEARD U'lttSS ASSOCIATION TEWKittAU.J WAIROA, June 20. Cases of considerable importance to farmer;;, involving serious charges, were commenced at, Wairoa on Wednesday, when Victor James Frank Magee and Jarnes Burnard Green were jointly charged with .stealing, at Mangapoike, (10 sheep, the property of various settlers in that locality. There were four charges. Two further charges were pre erred against Magee 3lcne of having stolen 74 iambs and 31 big sheep from the same locality on March 10 and 14. Tihi Whaanga, in evidence, stated that he noticed whilst at a local freezing works on April ii a lamb in the yard bearing his earmark. lie reported the matter to his agents. A further inspection was made and 44 of Whaanga's lambs were found in a mob of 40. Thomas Roy Spilier, auctioneer, in evidence, stated that on inspecting the mob he found earmarks of 24 tampered with, 14 with both ears mutilated, and 10 with one ear mutilated. After the hearing, which has continued since Wedcnsday morning, during which 37 witnesses have been heard, the magistrate, Mr V/. H. Walton, committed both accused for trial at Napier, bail in ,CSOO being granted. On the two charges against Magee the magistrate also found thai thenwas a case to answer, and committee! th:; accused to stand trial at Mapier. Similar bail was a 1 lowed,

EWE KILLED FOR FOOD TWO MEN JJEFOUJ£ COLItT • ajttzu isaocuiio* Ttxroiww.'J INVERCARGILL, JUIV.- 28. In Hie Magistrate':; Court to-day, before Mr W. 11. Freeman, S.M., Ronald C.-aiM Little and another, both aeed 21, of Caroline, labourers, pleaded fuilly to a charge of stealing a -dieep valued at i.'os. Little pleaded • milty to faihm: 1o comply with the term- of nis release on probation and tu a charge of stealing a watch valued at £.G at St. Bathan? on December 8, 1934. Both elected to be dealt with summarily. Detective-Ser'.teant R. Thompson -aid t)sat the aeeu.ied were emplo.. eat a relief camp at Caroline. They became short of mutton and killed a breeding ewe and left the offal and the skin in the paddock. One was a first offender, but Little (a married muni was on probation for two years for theft. There was no ien that they Ind b'en rnakins; a habit of sheep slealin;:. Remark in:.', that Little had bet-n Icleased on probation fur tin ft this year, the Mai-.isirate convicted ietii and sen l meed him to t'nree month:' imprisonment on the lir: t charee. On the other.-? he was convicted and discharged. To the other accused, who was a f'uvt ufi'ender. he would ;;ive another chance. He would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, and orden d to make restitution of lias in lull within one month. The Mtisi.-lraic ;a;d he would have taken a mere serious view of the ca. e had the sheep not been killed is>r food.