“NOT GUILTY” VERDICT

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 186, 4 May 1933, Page 4

“NOT GUILTY” VERDICT

Alleged Theft of Timber Michael John Ford, tirewood denier, Mastert.on, was found not guilty by a jury in tlie Supreme Court, before' Mr. Justice Blair, yesterday, on a charge of stealing a quantity of fence posts, valued nt, £42/12/6, from the property Mr. O. Beetham, at. Masterton. For the Crown, Mr. P- 8- KMacassoy submilted that the, posts were identical with those in tlie stack ou Mr. Beetham's property. They had been taken by the accused and sold to another farmer in the W:tirarap:i, it was submitted. Several witnesses were called to identify the timber by its markings, and tlie way in which it: had been cut and split. The theft was denied, prisoner saying he had permission to clear certain ground of timber, and tlie only timber Ito took was that which was not fit for posts, but only for tiring. He admitted that he was told not to take totara. Mr. 11. H. Daniel, for the accused, said the jury bad lo he satisfied lhat guilt had been proved, nnd submitted that the Crown had failed to do that. Prisoner was entitled to the benefit.of tiny doubt. After a retirement of four hours the jury reltfeiicd the verdict of not guilty.