TO MINIMISE SHEEP-STEALING

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 August 1935, Page 7

TO MINIMISE SHEEP-STEALING

NO NIGHT TRANSPORT , A JUDGE’S OPINION [FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HASTINGS, August 8. The opinion that sheep should not be allowed to be transhipped by lorry at night was expressed by Mr Justice Reed, in the Supreme Coujt, to-day, during the hearing of sheep-stealing charges. , n , Counsel, Mr L. T. Burnard, asked a lorry driver if he did a great deal of carrying sheep by night to freezing works, the reply being that he had during the past two seasons His Honor: Then I think it ought to be stopped by law; it is too much temptation. Sheepfarmers ought to do something about it. Mr Burnard: Of course, your Honor, lorry drivers are eager to get any jobs they can. His Honor: That may be, but sheepstealing is too serious a thing .for that to be taken into consideration. On two charges of sheep-stealing, Victor Frank James Magee 1 of Wairoa, was found guilty to-day. Farmers, whose property bordered on Magee’s, revealed that shortages of sheep had been discovered after musters. None had sold accused any sheep, but they had found some of their sheep on accused’s property. For the defence, it was stated the evidence had revealed tremendous losses of sheep by farmers in the d»» trict for some years, but there was nothing to connect the sheep held by accused with those losses. That being so, the Crown case must fail. It was not the duty of accused, moreover, to come forward and prove the sheep' held by him were'his own property. ♦The jury retired and returned 25 minutes later with a verdict of guilty on both counts. The prisoner was remanded for sentence.

Archibald Robert Wilkie, in a further sheep-stealing case, is charged with the theft of seven sheep at Tutira. The case was unfinished at the adjournment.

WANGANUI SENTENCES

WANGANUI. August 9.

The Chief Justice (Sir M. Myers) sentenced the following prisoners: —

Joseph Cunningham, 23, unlawful carnal knowledge, to come up for sentence within 18 months if called upon. William Arthur Bettridge, a similar offence, but different features, having known the girl since her childhood, nine months’ reformative detention.

Bacliint Singh, 50, alleged rape, 18 months’ hard labour. The Judge stated that he would not allow it to go forth, that the Court would extend probation to persons found guilty of violence to women, or an attempted offence of this kind.