SHEEP STEALING

Evening Star, Issue 22068, 29 June 1935, Page 28

SHEEP STEALING

EKTENSIVE Or EtIATIOfiS ALLEGED SUSPECTS TO STAND TRIAL [Peu United Peeks association.] WAIROA, Juno 28. Cases of considerable importance to fanners were commenced here on Wednesday, when Victor James Frank Magee and James Barnard Green were jointly charged on four counts with stealing 60 sheep, the property of various settlers. Two further charges were preierred against Magee alone ofhaving stolen 74 lambs and 31 sheep on March 10 and 14 respectively. Tihi Whaanga stated hi evidence that whilst at the local freezing works on April 3 he noticed a lamb in the yard bearing his earmark. He reported tiie matter to his agents, and as the result of a further inspection 44 of his sheep wore found in a mob of 46. Thomas Roy Spiller, an auctioneer, said that on inspecting the mob he found that live earmarks - of 24 had been tampered with. There were 14 sheep with both oars .mutilated, - and 10 with one ear mutilated. After hearing the evidence of 37 witnesses, the magistrate, Mr E. W. Walton, committed both of the accused .for trial at Napier, bail in the sum of ■£soo being granted. On the two charges against Magee the magistrate also found that there was a case to answer, and committed the accused for trial at Napier, sitpilar bail being allowed. SHORT OF MUTTON. ‘ INVERCARGILL, June-28. In the Police Court to-day, before Mr W. H. ’Freeman, S.M., Ronald Craig Little and another, both aged 21, of Caroline, labourers, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing sheep valued at 255. Little pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the terms of his release on probation and to a charge of stealing a watch valued at £6 at St. Bathahs on December 8, 1934. Both elected to be dealt with summarily. Detective-sergeant R. Thompson said that the accused were employed at a relief camp at Caroline. They became short of mutton and killed a breeding ewe and left the offal and the skin in a paddock. One was a first offender, but Little, who-was a married man, was on probation for two years for theft. There was no suggestion that they had been making a habit of sheep stealing. Remarking that Little had been released on probation for theft this year, the magistrate convicted him and sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment on the first charge. On the others, he would be convicted and discharged. The other accused, who was’ a first offender, would be given another chance. Ho would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when'called upon and ordered to make restitution of the 25s in full within one month. His Worship said he would have taken a more serious view of. the case had the sheen not been killed for food. , '