ATTEMPT TO STEAL SHEEP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 23 January 1939, Page 9

ATTEMPT TO STEAL SHEEP

TWO MEN SENTENCED [United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, 21st January. “Sheep stealing is easy to commit and difficult to detect, and both accused will bs sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour,” said Mr H. A. Young, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day when William Frederick Stokes, 35, and Frank Walter Hey wood, 28, appeared on a joint charge of attempting to steal at Belfast on 14th January, sheep valued at £l, the property of Thomas Borthwick and Son (Australia) Ltd. Both pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant Sinclair said that for some time past Bortlnvicks had been missing sheep. A watch had been kept and the accused were caught red-handed. One escaped but later both frankly admitted to the police that they had gone into the paddock for the purpose of stealing sheep. Stokes had been before the Court previously Last Saturday, said counsel, Ileywood had gone with Stokes to Belfast and had got. very drunk. Hey wood had acted aa he did under the influence of liquor. He said he had not been to the paddock on any previous occasion and there was nothing to suggest that this was not so. Stokes also had been under the influence of drink.