A Serious Charge.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume XVIII, Issue 943, 21 February 1919, Page 4

A Serious Charge.

H. Cunningham, who was before the Te Awamutu Court a fortnight ago on a charge of etealing a cow, appeared again last Tuesday to answer a charge brought by Constable Rushton, of stealing 18 head of cattle, valued at £135, the property of R. Carrie, of Honikiwi. Senior Sergeant Cassels prosecuted, and accused was not represented by counsel. It will be remembered that he was arrested on this charge when he stepped down out of the dock at the last hearing. 0. Redwood, farmer, Honikiwi, said he saw accused driving a mob of cattle towards Otorohanga on January 13th. Robt. Carrie said he has a farm at Honikiwi, in charge of A. Fredrick. In January 86 cattle were on the place, but in consequence of rumours they were mustered on 19th January,

24 being missing. Gattie inspected that day he identified as being bis. He had seen these cattle on farms of people who had bought them. Accused was never authorised to go on the farm and the gates and fences were all secure.

E. Pettit, stock agent for the Farmers’ Auctioneering Co. at Morrinsvilie, said he drafted a mob of cattle into the yards for sale for accused on January 17. All excepting 12 of them were sold.

J. Sberriff, booking clerk for the sama company, said be booked up the entries with accused, who wanted to sell the lot and gave no reserves. There were 55 head, including 8 calves.

N. P. Jack, sales clerk for the company, gave details of the sales effected. He understood that the money bad not been paid over to accused.

J. Bruce, farmer, Olaudelands, said he bought three cows at £6 14s.

They had remained on his farm until Carrie claimed them. A. Fredrick said he looked after Carrie’s Honikiwi place. He mus tered the cattle following information received. He had never authorised accused or anybody else to shift any cattle.

W. Budden said he, too, had seen accused on January 13 driving a mob of cattle towards Otorohanga. Accused had said his partner advised him to sell all the cattle before prices dropped. W. A. Body, farmer, Eureka, said he bought eleven cows at the Morrinsvilie sale—nine at £8 each and two at £5 2s. These were on his farm until Carrie claimed them.

A. Pretty, butcher and farmer, Matangi, said be bought a cow and calf from accused privately, paying £lO. Last Saturday Carrie came on the scene and claimed them.

H. Magill, farmer, Shaftesbury, bought 14 steers at the Morrinsvilie sale at £7 10s. Carrie bad claimed them as hie, and possession was duly given.

Geo. Williams, drover, Frankton, said accused met him at the Rukubia factory, and said the mob was the fag-end of a lot he bad brought from Taranaki. Witness saw the cow and calf sold to Pretty, and later had seen the mob drafted in the Morrinsvilie yards.

R. Carrie, jun., said he brought back the cattle and put them in the Court yard. He identified them as his father’s property, Constable Rushton gave formal evidence as to the arrest of accused, and Senior-Sergeant Cassells said he bad known accused for 20 years by the name of Cecil Gardiner Cunningham. He had also passed under the name of McKenzie.

Accused bad nothing to say ; he reserved bis defence, and was committed for trial. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £2OO and self £2OO, but none was forthcoming.—Post.