Poverty Induces Farmer To Steal for Family

Northern Advocate, 4 July 1939, Page 9

Poverty Induces Farmer To Steal for Family

That he had been induced through poverty to kill sheep to feed his family was the plea advanced to the police by Thomas Sands, a farmer, of Marua.

Sands pleaded guilty in the Whangarei Court yesterday to two charges of stealing sheep valued at £2, the property of George Graham.

Detective J. B. Finlay said that the fence between accused’s property and the one adjoining was in bad repair. A freshly-skinned sheepskin had been found, and later another had been discovered. Accused later admitted killing the sheep, although he said he thought one with no earmarks had belonged to him. He had given Detective Miller every assistance in clearing up the matter. Accused was in poor circumstances. He had eight of a family depending on him, and his wife was an invalid. He told the police that only his poverty had induced him to kill the sheep to feed his family. Sheep-stealing was easy to commit, but hard to detect, said Detective Finlay. Accused had never been in trouble before.

Asked if lie hud anything to say. accused said other people’s sheep came on to his property and mixed with his own. Ho had committed the offence on the spur of the moment. Mr G. N. Morris, S.M.: Is there any reason why I should not gaol you?

Accused: I think it was more of a mistake than anything. The magistrate: There was no mistake about it. Could you pay a heavy fine, and what could you pav if f fine

you? Accused: About £5. Accused was fined £5 on the first charge and £lO on the second and ordered to make restitution of £2, the amount to be paid at £5 a month. '•I am taking everything into consideration, but if this happens again I will give you a long term in gaol." the magistrate warned accused.

I have lost four toes in the Mount Cook snows: An eye on the Tasman Sea; A hand and a Jaw in a circular saw, And a foot by a falling tree. But I never took ill from a cold or a chill, For health I could aye endure By wetting my throttle in time with a bottle Of Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. 29.