SHEEP-STEAMNG CHARGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18705, 10 May 1924, Page 9

SHEEP-STEAMNG CHARGE.

ACQUITTAL OF A FARMER. ' r VERDICT FROM THE BOX. The trial in the Supreme Court, before Mr. Justice Herdman, of Milton Mo- - Millan (Mr. A. H. Johnstone and Mr. t Uren), on a charge of stealing 11 sheep, 1 valued at £13, the property of Alexander, Bell, came to a sudden termination yesterday morning, when the jury, without leaving the ' box, returned a* verdict of / "not guilty." The allegation was that accused, who I ,; was a farmer, of Maungatav/hiri Valley, took the sheep from a neighbouring pro- • perty . occupied by another farmer. ' v j McMillan's explanation was that appar-j ) ently there were sheep running on - Bell's property or nearby which did not belong i to Bell, and accused thought they -were ! sheep :he ' had • lost. ; He thought the ' sheep in question were part of that naraI ber and said either two or , three bore ■ his own 'earmark. " ■" After the case for the Crown had con-" ■ eluded on '.Thursday; Mr. Johnstone asked . the Judge i if, he considered there was a case to answer. « t „» , t His Honor said it was not a strong 1 case, but he thought it should go to the / jury. ' ' . . r ' y \ 1 " ' • When the case was called yesterday, i ' His Honor looked at counsel, who looked I at each other and . then at the. foreman • of the jury. -'- The ; latter •' rose at once and said that the jury did. not wisV to hear any " more evidence. A verdict of acquittal was at once passed, and McMillan wa3 discharged. i .