Farmer Fined For Theft Of Two Ewes

Northern Advocate, 1 April 1946, Page 4

Farmer Fined For Theft Of Two Ewes

Admitting two charges of stealing sheep. Charles Jowsey Coxhead. 40. farmer ol' Parakao. was fined £2O on each charge when he appeared in the Whangarei Court today.

Refusing an application for suppression of his name, the magistrate (Mr W. C. Harlt-v) said it should be “well and truly published."

Electing to be dealt with by the magistrate. Coxhead pleaded guilty t,c [wo charges of stealing a two-tooth ewe rained at £4 each, the property of Phillip Henry Going. Detective-Sergeant J. B. Finlay said that Going had driven a dock of sheep past a flock owned by Coxhead and when he had reached his home had found three of 211 sheep missing. Later he had seen them on Coxhead’s property, the animals being easily identifiable as they were two-tooth ewes while Coxhead's ilock was mostly aged. SKINS FOUND Still later Going had found sheep skins and heads from which the ears had been removed, but two of them had been identifiable. Interviewed by the police Coxhead had admitted killing the sheep after finding them on his property. He had explained that he had taken this action out of spite because of past trouble between Going land himself.

Going and Coxhead had been at loggerheads for some time, said Detec-tive-Sergeant Finlay. Sheep-stealing, however, was fairly prevalent in the North, being easy to commit but difficult to detect. In this ease a bit of luck had led to the sheep skins being found. Coxhead, who had not previously been in trouble. had said he .voi kl not have committed the offences :f the sheep had not been on his propei tv. TO GET SQUARE’ "Going and Coxhead have been bad neighbours for a considerable number of years," said Mr A. C. Lamb, who appeared for Coxhead. While Coxhead had been in camp Going had allegedly shot one of his pigs, while there had been trouble over geese and sheep. When Coxhead had found the sheep on his property he had conceived the idea of getting square for ‘.he alleged killing of the pig. A well-respected farmer. Coxhead had not previously been in trouble, and he was most repentant for what he had done, it was not a question or straight-out sheep-stealing, but one of trying to get square with a neighbour with whom he was on unfriendly

"Sheep-stealers usually tire highly respected iur.il they are caught." commented the magistrate. This was a difficult class of case to deal with in a fanning community, as it was difficult

to detect, but the fact that Coxhead had cut off the sheep's ears showed ;hat he intended to steal. He could be prosecuted also for that offence. Such a prosecution would have to be taken by the stock inspector. De-tective-Sergeant Finlay said. Coxhead was fined £2O on each charge, the fine to be paid forthwith, in default 23 days' imprisonment in each case. Restitution of £2 10 - was ordered. Mr Lamb applied for suppression of Coxhead’s name. "Certainly not." replied llie magistrate. "This is just the type of name we want well and truly published."