MEN CHARGED WITH CATTLE STEALING IN KING COUNTRY

Grey River Argus, 28 September 1949, Page 7

MEN CHARGED WITH CATTLE STEALING IN KING COUNTRY

P.A. TAUMARUNUI, Sept. 27 At the police court to-day, before Justices, Leo Merton Biggar and Clifford John Shortcliffe were jointly charged with stealing cattle valued at £3BB from four farmers in Piriaka district near Taumarupui. Robert John Burling, farmer, of Piraka, gave evidence that the two accused worked and lived on his farm. As a result of information he received, witness made a muster. He found a number of cattle missing. On the day of the muster, the witness went to a house occupied- by Biggar and Shortcliffe. He found it locked. The two accused were absent. On September 6 in company with police, witness identified his cattle and others belonging to his neighbours on the. farm of Charles John Spearman Rogers at Paparata, Bombay.

Charles J. S. Rogers gave evidence that he inserted in a newspaper an advertisement offering grazing to let, and he later received a telephone call from a man who gave him his name as White, of Hamilton, and who agreed to pay three shillings per week per head for cattle to be grazed. When the witness went to Pokeno station to have cattle transported to his farm, he saw Biggar, who he had known for two years. Witness asked Biggar what he was doing there, and he said that he worked for White and had been sent through with the cattle. Police and Burling later inspected cattle on witness’s farm, and took possession of them.

The case may last two days, there being over thirty witnesses.