Sheep-Stealing Charges
(N.Z Press Association) NAPIER. May 18. The case for the Crown on 16 charges of sheep stealing against John Douglas Ovens, aged 48. a farmer, of Porangahau, was completed this afternoon. Ovens, represented by Mr 11. W. Dowling, with him Mr A. K. Monagan, has pleaded not guilty on all counts. Mr Justice McGregor is presiding, with Mr R, G Gallen representing the Crown. Ovens was not on trial for negligence in his farming, or for allowing other farmers’ sheep to stray on to his farm, said Mr Dowling, opening the defence case. “If he’s on trial for theft because sheep were found in a muster on his farm, then almost every farmer in New Zealand could be charged," Mr Dowling said. “There is an essential difference between being in possession of something, and stealing it. I agree wholeheartedly that there are suspicious circumstances, but that’s not enough,” said Mr Dowling.
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Press, Volume C, Issue 29517, 19 May 1961, Page 17
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153Sheep-Stealing Charges Press, Volume C, Issue 29517, 19 May 1961, Page 17
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