COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 10 August 1935, Page 9

COURT NEWS

Sheep Stealing HAWKE’S BAY CONVICTION. QTer Y*re<s NAPIER, August 8. A verdict of guilty on all counts was returned by the jurv in the case ■it the Supreme Court, in which two Wiiron men. Frank .Tames Magee and James Purnard Green, were charged as follows: Theft of 13 sheep valued a’ £9 15s. at Mangatoiki. the propor“y of some person unknown: theft of 42 sheep valued nt £.ll 17s. the property of Tihi Wlr.nnga: theft of two sheen, valued at £1 the pronertv of Tlenrv GenimpP; theft of three sheen valued £2 12s. the proper 4 V of Joseph Cork’ll. I The iurv returned after an hour’s absence, with a verdict of guiltv. and a recommendation to merev in Green’s '••asp. Accused iwero remanded for V’ctor Frank James Magee was found guiltv on two further charges of «heep stealing, and was remanded for sentence. Th’idenr** was 'riven that Green a' rrangod with a Wairoa carrier to caff for the sheep at Magee’s, which wnr? taken to rhe Waima freezing works, there being some 70 sh p ep in nV. On the following morning Whaangn. whose propertv adjenns Magee’s went to the works, and found some sheep had bis ea’niarks. Other farmers in 'he distr'ct were able to idenHfv some of the sheen as hplnnging to them. hu,t the earmark-’ of others were niutilatrtd. Clippings of ear had been found by the police on Magee’s pronertv. For the defence, it was said tha r the sheep belonging fo Whannga had been removed hr mistake because on the dav the sheen were allegedly stolen. Mno-eo had returned eight others to Whaanga. Tt was held that the muGla’ion of ears was not the means of hiding m-irks of other owners, hut the means of distinguishing sheep from those of neighbouring farms. Green had Purchased 25 sheep frnm Magee, his cni’d.ivor. and had used rhe latter’s earmarker. EXMENTAL PATIENT’S CASE. TPer Press Association A PALMERSTON N.. August 7. Dpscr hed as a labourer with no relatives in New Zealand. Edward Redgpwick 48 years of ago. appeared for sentence on a. •rrtous offence against a hoy tn which he last week pleaded guiltv. The Probation Offfi •Pr’s report 1 stated the prisoner had hern a patient for a period in an nsv-um as the resuk of head injuries received at the war. Tl's lapse had occurred after drmk’ng mofhvlated spirits, and drink aggravated the effect of his injuries. The accused said he drank methv’ated spirits to relieve intense rhennietie pains and he was not then responsible for his actions. Mr Jusfico "Blair said that the proper course for Trm to take was to enable the accused to receive treatment and then the case cou’d be reconsidered. He would pa«s sentence, not ns a punishment hut to enable the accused -4 o be looked after in the particular institution to which he would go. Tn imposing a sentence of reformative detention for a period not exceeding four years. His Honour said that th's would enable the course mentioned to he followed, and if permitted the case tb he reconsidered every three months.

Alleged Bank Fraud THE AUCKLAND CASE. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND. August 7. Bail was fixed at £2OO in each case, when Lawrence Edward Din (or Dean) 23, and Madelain Elizabeth Din, were remanded to-day on a charge of conspiring to defraud the Post Office Savings Bank at Auckland of £l,Bho. The Police prosecutor strongly opposed the granting of hail, saying there was every reason to belieze th? accused would attempt to abscond. He suggested that bail be fixe! at £5OOO a least. It was known that mcney had been sent by draft to Australia, under fictitious names, and both accused had been booked on the Wanganella under fictitious names.

Counsel for the accused asserted that there was nothing against the accused but suspicion.