POLICE COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXI, Issue 324, 22 December 1887, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

(Before Messrs .f. Sharp and F. Trask, J J.P.) Jo:oph Muirfi W!B charged with stealing' four sheep, the property of Jamee and William Bell, eberp farmers at Northtanlr, in the Provincial district of Marlboroagh, Inspector Atoheson conducted the prosecution, end Mr 0. Horley appeared for the defence. Gr. W, Polamore, a farmer living in Aniseed Valley, and agent for Bell Brothers of Northbank station, Marlborough: On the 1,6 ',h instant I met Lankow, Busch's man, driving a oovsrei cart down the vnlley towards Buech's home. I stopped him, and noticing something suspicious I said I was going to ride as far as my place in his carfc. I got up; and noticed there were four sheep in the oart. I reached down and felt their ears, and found they had Bell Brothers' mark. I weab homo and called out Thomas KiDzett and showed him the earmarks. I then rode to Richmond to inform tho police I returned with tho constable and he tcok charge of the sheep and took them to Richmond. The ears prodnpod are those of tho sheep. Crosa-examined by Mr Ilarluy ; I ruefc the cart about 7 p.m. Busch was not with it. The cart had to drive past my place. Lankow was lold to tell mo lo go to Buech's in the morning for a draft of 6hetp. I don't know where the sheep were caught. One had been shorn last y^ar but the o.hera had more than a year's fleece on them, Busoh was oooupying the top of Starveall and Slatey Peaks. It is bush country buf not vary rough, I was told there wore do ebeep killed at the Slatey Peaks, but it was part of the country on wbioh they bad to kill tbe sheep, Busch waß one of those employed to kill the wild sheep.

By the Benoh : B-ll ! s earmark is a notch at the top and one out of the bick of tie right ear. I wanted a right to ran sheep on the Starveall country and Bosch ngreea I to it-, but afterwards backed out Paton's interest in the country was verbally transferred to m». Paton and Bueoh have a joint interest in the Starveall . and Slatey Peak country. George Lankpw: I was employed by Busoh at mustering and was out on the hills with him and his two sons on the 14th inst. We were after isome sheep which Busoh said were wild. We got in a little mob of eight sheep. I asked Busoh if they did not belong to Northbank and he replied " No they are mine now I've got them. " One bolted into' the bush, two he killed on the road, and five he brought down to the whare. I did not know Bell's earmark. The mark on the ears produced is similar to that on the sheep we ianght. I carried tb.9 skins of the two ,hat were killed down to the whare. I took ;he other four sheep down to Busch. I had ihem in my charge when the constable came ;o take possession of them. Busch made the iheep fast when they were put in the cart. The oart was covered over by Busch himself. CroES examined : We killed those tbat knocked up. One had a long tail, Busch told me to put the sheep in his paddock when I got home. Charles Barnett, butcher I was employed by the constable to kill four sheep. I killed two, which were full mouthed sheep, one of thorn having a three or four years' fleece on it. The earmarks produced are similar to those borne by the sheep I killed. There were two ewes and two wethers, the former having long tails. Cross-examined: I killed only two sheep, the other two having died from the roughing they had received. Constable Ingram deposed that on being sent for he went to the prisoner's, and found four live sheep, and the carcase of another in a cart. He took them down to Richmond and had two killed, the others dying on the road. When he arrested Busoh he said it was all right ; he knew they were Bell's sheep, and he was going to sell them and forward him the proceeds. William Best : I am a sheepfarmer at Northbank in the Waimea. I have sheep running on Mount Ada and the neighboring hills. I never gave the accused authority to take any sheep from Mount Ada. Cross examined : I gave Mr Edward Paton authority to sell any of my Bbeep that came into his yards and to forward me the proceeds. Mount Starveall and the Slatey Peaks are about 12 miles from my station, The belt of bush between me and the Slatey Peaks is about three miles wide. The prisoner was committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court.' A seoond information was then laid against the same -prisoner for killing a sheep with intent to steal the oarcaso, On this, too, he was committed for trial, bail being allowed, himself in £200 and two sureties in £100 each.