SHEEP STEALING.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 2092, 4 October 1899, Page 1

SHEEP STEALING.

m It is well-known that sheep-steal-ing is coaatantly going on, and that it is extremely difficult to procure a conviction for this offence. It has frequently happened that persons acCU - e uu° f ,*? akin S free with their neighbours flocks have been acquitted byia composed of townspeople, when the majority of country people I were satisfied that a miscarriage of 3ußt.ee had been committed Oh account of the great variety of brands and ear-marks, there is usually some little doubt as to the guilt of the accused amT the jury generally gives him the fall benefit of the doubt. I snould be very BO rry to see an innccent person convicted of this serious charge, but 1 cmnot help thinking tliatmany a guilty one has escaped proper punishm n , and on that account I am m agreement with the proposal that the juries m sheepsfceahng c aFe , shruld be ompore.J of farmen lnatead of tradesmen. I be•i? I Matter get ro d« ZP d and be wi dered by the evidence m connection W u ?,: varlo " s brands and mnrka that they cannot bring their miodi to grasp the ga'ient points of the case. »'ii therefuie bring m a verdict of acquittal ie order to be sure that tney will not mnlio a mUtake and puni-h jn innocent man. On the othef hand, ,_ib _ mn y he said that a jury ot furuiera would be too prone to con* v.cfc and every suspicious circumstandd would be considered a proof of gniHj and rather than run any risk of letting a sheep thief go free they would prefer to convict, aud thus, perhaps, condemn an innocent man.