ALLEGED THEFT OF CATTLE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 9 March 1926, Page 10

ALLEGED THEFT OF CATTLE.

PIHAMA FARMER’S COMPLAINT. TWO YOUNG MEN CHARGED. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. Charged with the theft of Id' head of cattle valued at £'Bo from a property at Pihama, on or about February It, two farm employees, Alfred Milner Basil Ison, 26 years of age, and Leo Sydney Stuart Farmer, It) years of age, appeared on remand at the Opunake Police Court yesterday, before Colonel R. AY. Tate, S.M. Both the accused, who pleaded not guilty, were committed for trial at the next session of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth. Bail was renewed in'_ the same amounts as before, viz., eacfi in his own recognisance of £IOO and two sureties of £IOO each.

Police proceedings were conducted by Detective Meiklejohu. The accused Wilson, was represented by Mr. L. M. Moss, and Farmer by Mr. A. A. Bennett.

The first witness called, Arthur McKeown, the owner of the cattle alleged to have been stolen, said he was a farmer residing at Pihama. He had employed AVilson as a farm hand from November, 1925, until AVilson was arrested on March 1. AA itness also employed Farmer, the other accused, and had engaged him in January. On February 2 Farmer departed, ostensibly to visit a dentist, and was away until February 6, when witness told" him his services were no longer required AA'itness had two other farms on the Patiki Road, some distance from the homestead property, and had a number of cattle running on them. Farmer left again on Sunday. February 7, on good terms with witness. AVilson left on Saturday, February 20. for New Plymouth, and returned on the following clay. On the 22nd (Monday) he drew a cheque to go to New Plymouth again, and returned on the AVednesday morning. On that date witness missed a bullock, but did not think it had been stolen, and on the Saturday following the agent for the Loan and Mercantile Company had inquired for AVilson. On Sunday, February 28, AA r ilson had informed witness that he (Wilson) wished to make a statement. Wilson said that he and Farmer had stolen 15 head of cattle from witness’ dry stock farm. AA 7 ilson further said that the c-attle had been sold in Hawera by auction.

Replying to Air. Bennett, witness said that AVilson may not have mentioned the number fifteen. AVilson had appealed lflor leniency on behalf t>f Farmer. AA r ilson had said that if Farmer was punished he (AVilson) was equally guilty. AVitness had advised Wilson to go to the auctioneer’s agent and make the same confession. AVilson had further said that Farmer had attended the cattle sale. To Air. Bennett, witness said that Farmer was not present during the conversation with Wilson.'

Replying to Mr. Aloss, witness said that definite information , that the cattle had been sent to Hawera and sold came from Wilson, and witness would not have- known of it but for that. He was astounded when he heard of it, and had previously had no complaint about either of the accused. Possibly AATlson did not know witness was going to draft for Newton King’s sale until lie returned on the AVednesday morning. Wilson appeared to have been unwell for some time. The value of the stock sold would be about £BO. Neither the accused nor anyone else had any authority to remove the cattle. AUCTIONEER'S EVIDENCE. George Worcester Stubbs, manager of the Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd.. Hawera, gave evidence that on the morning of ihisi bran’s cattle sale at Hawera on February 11, he was informed that 15 head of cattle were tn despute, and some time later was ,shown a telegram signed A. M. Wilson. It was sent from Te Iviri, and read: “Yarding 15 head of cattle, steers and empties, to-day.” After the receipt of the telegram the cattle were sold. Two cows were sold at £6 7s! 6cl and two at £5, four bullocks at £6 Is and seven bullocks at £5, a gross receipt of £B4 15s. AVilson was advised ot the result of the sale by letter and a cheque payable to A. M. Wilson was sent to the firms Opunake agent, with certain instructions, as witness did not know who Wilson was. The cheque was not passed out and witness heard nothing more of the matter until the accused (AVilson) called at his office on Alonday, March 1, stating that he wished to make an explanation. Farmer was not present. Wilson had informed witness he had, previously seen Air. McKeown and the firm’s Opunake agent. He isaid to witness, “In connection with those cattle sold by me ; they were not mine.” AVilson bail fuitlier .said the cattle had been taken from AlcKeown’.s place without the latter’s knowledge. AVilson had said that McKeown was agreeable to accept the cheque and to do nothing further in the matter. To Air. Aloss: Witness said that AVilson had been perfectly frank and had explained the whole matter when he saw witness..

AVILSON’S> STATEMENT. Constable Olouston gave evidence as to having interviewed AVilson at P.iliaana on Alarch 5, and after witness had told AATlson lie wais being charged with cattle .stealing, A\ iispn hau intimated he wished to make a. clean breast of the whole tiling. AVilson had signed a statement to the effect that lie and Leo. Fanner had been working lor Arthur McKeown, farmer at LTinama. Ou the third and fourth of February, Farmer had been allowed to go to Hawera and did not return until February 6, when he was dismissed for having stayed away'for so long. Farmer was very annoyed and said he would like to put it over McKeown. Farmer had then suggested he should get some ol AlcKeown’s stock and take them to the Hawera sale. AVilson lent Farmer about 30s. On February 9, AVilson was getting some stock from the 'bush when Farmer arrived with a horse. AViltson know that Farmer was there for and he (AVilson) was not keen on the business and had said he would rather have nothing to do with it, hut had helped Farmer drive the cattle on to the road. Farmer had stated it would be all right and that he would .put the cattle in Wilson’s name, as AVilson had a Post Office account. AVilson had said Farmer oould do as he liked. On Thursday. February 11. Farmer had come to Wilson’s room after the family had gone to bed and asked if he could stay in the whare. AVilson had replied he would rather Farmer kept away from the place, but that he could stay for the night. AVilson had given him some food and the following day, when Farmer left by the ’bus, had given him £3. When Farmer had previously left with the cattle he had told Wilson to send him a telegram from Te Kiri on the Thursday morning to Hawera, stating that the stock would be yarded. Though he did not like doing so, WH-

son had sent the telegram. W ilson had made no bargain with Farmer as to how the proceeds' of the sale were to be disposed of. When Wilson received the statement of the sale from the auctioneers he realised how the matter convicted him and decided he would not collect the cheque. On February 13, Wilson saw Farmer at New Plymouth and told him he (Wilson) had decided to make a statement to. McKeown. Wilson gave Farmer some money to enable him to go to Palmerston North to get work, but instead of going there Farmer had gone to the races. When "Wilson had made a confession to McKeown the latter had promised he would not get Wilson into (trouble, but advised. Wilson to see the Opunake manager of the Loan and Mercantile Agency. Wilson had done this and had also interviewed the Haweni manager and both had stated that, they had no desire to carry the matter further, as McKeown was prepared to have the cheque made payable to him, "Wilson then thought the matter had been settled, but, on returning: from Hnwom to PiliaM, found the police waiting to arrest him. The statement concluded, “I then realised that McKeown had got me to weave a web round myself for the purpose of making evidence against myself. ’ Detective Meiklejohn stated in evidence that he had interviewed Farmer at New Plymouth on March 2, and Farmer ’had made a statement to the effect that on February 7 he had left MeeKown’s employ 'and had remained on the farm for three days unknown to McKeown. During this time he arranged with, iVi 1 son to steal a number of cattle from McKeown and sell them in Hawera.. With Wilson, Farmer had gone to the middle farm and cut out eleven three-year-old steers and four fat cows and Farmer drove them to Hiawera, placing them in the Loan and Mercantile sale under the name of A. M. Wilson, Te Kiri. They expected the cattle would average £5 each. When Farmer returned from Haiwera Wilson had given him £5 8s and had said he would give Farmer half of the proceeds of the sale. This concluded the evidence and accused pleaded not guilty and were committed for trial as indicated above.