ACQUITTED.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 3 September 1915, Page 4

ACQUITTED.

WANGANUI, Sept. 2. 1-iie bupreme Court was occupied all day in hearing a charge of sheep-steal-ing against a drover named Samuel JV ikon The facts of the case were that a, AVaverley farmer named Cave missed 200 sheep towards the end of July, and subsequently ascertained that they had beeu trucked to' Feildmg and sold there. Accused admitted trucking tue sheep to Wavorley and said he was acting: on the direction ot a stranger, who gave the namp of Stevens. He had taken the sheep tram an accommodation paddock at XVaver'oy. some distance from Cave's farm, and had sent them forward The police gave evidence that no man of Stevens' description could be fevnd .Lvidence was given by drovers that it was a usual practice to lift sheep'from any locality on instructions of strangers, and forward them to variousi Hah*?. Justice' Edwards said that it the practice existed it was a very dangerous and loose way of doins business. He considered that in all cases ctrovers should satisfy"themselves who were the rightful owners of stock Ihe jury returned a verdict of not