FARMER ACQUITTED

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 41, 20 February 1929, Page 12

FARMER ACQUITTED

SHEEP STEALING CHARGE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

INVJSUCARGILL, 10th I'cbruary. In the Supremo Court to-day before Mr. Justice MacGregor, Charles Edward Calder, farmer, near Dipton, was charged Hvitli the theft o£ 55 sheep valued at £101. Ho pleaded not guilty. -'■In hia charge to the grand jury Mis Honour explained that the property adjoining Calder's was owned by Messrs. A. Gerrard and Sous, and in July oi last year they missed some oi. their ewes.These ewes were filially found some time later on Calder's place, and their brands had been obliterated and some of the car marks altered to correspond with Caldcr s car markfs. In October oi lust year Gerrard spoke to Caldcr about the sheep on the lattor's property, and Calder admitted they were Gerrard's owes, and handed them .over. One of the Oerrards drew up a confession, and this was Rigncd by Caldcr before a Justice o£ the Peace. There was a clause in the confession iv which Caldcr agreed to sell his property and leave the district. When he did not do this the confession was handed to the police and Calder was charged with theft. After a short retirement the grand jury returned a true bill. Lengthy evidence was gLven tor the prosecution, tut none was given for the defence. Mr. Gordon Reed said that Colin Gerrard obtained the confession from, Calder and about a week later Gerrard's uncle offered to buy Caldcr's' farm. Caldcr sold it to someone else and then the confession was handed to the police. ■ _ Counsel contended that the jury could not be satisfied that the sheep belonged to Gerrard. Caldev did not appear to have acted like a criminal. He had oarmarked lambs.while Gerrard was standing by because he had nothing to hide. Calder also occasionally referred to the missing sheep and offered to muster to see if any of Gerrard's were there. When the sheep were identified. Caldcr did his best to restore any sheep not belonging to him Counsel argued that the confession was not worth the paper it was written on because it was got under compulsion. The jury considered the case for two and a half hours and returned a verdict of not guilty.