THEFT OF CATTLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18711, 17 May 1924, Page 7

THEFT OF CATTLE.

ANOTHER AKA AKA OABE.

LUDWIG FOUND GUILTY.

JUDGE DEFERS SENTENCE.

Another stock-stealing case in the Aka Alca series was tried "before Mr. Justice Herdman in the Supreme Court yesterday. Clyde Powell Ludwig, aged 23, -who was convicted earlier in the week of horsestealing, was now placed in the dock on the further charge of having stolen five steers, valued at £27 10s, the property oi Osmond Henry, of Aka Aka, near Waiuku, and also three cows, worth £24, the property of Thomas McNamara. Mr. Mason appeared for the defence. The cattle in question, while grazing on the road in the Aka Aka district, disappeared. Subsequently, it was alleged by the Crown, one was found on accused's farm near Otorohanga, and two others were identified in the herds of people to whom accused had sold them. After the prosecution had called a long array of witnesses, Mr. Paterson, Crown counsel, obtained permission to amend the indictment by reducing the charge to the theft of the identified animals-—one Ayrshire steer, the property of Osmond Henry, and one Hol.stein steer and one Jersey heifer, the property of Thomas McNamara. Accused swore that he had bought the Hoistin through the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, and the Jersey from Waiter Barraclough. In cross-examina-tion, he challenged a suggestion that ho had been in trouble connected with horses, and cattle all his life. Walter Barraciough testified that he sold accused one Jersey yearling and two Shorthorns. In cross-examination, ho said he was in Aka Aka about the time when the horses concerned in the trial of the earlier part of the week were stolen, ana helped Ludwig to drive the horses away, but he had nothing to do with them afterwards. He had thought they were wild horses.

Frank M. Whitehead, - farmer, of Pukekohe, identified Ludwig as the man who had bought some yearling Holsteins of his that were offered at auction through the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. • After about half an hour's deliberation the jury found the prisoner guilty on both charges. Sentence .was deferred until Monday.