CATTLE-STEALING CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19896, 15 March 1928, Page 11

CATTLE-STEALING CASE.

ANIMALS OBTAINED BY TRICK

REFORMATIVE TERM ORDERED.

[BV TELEGRAPH. —OWN- CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, "Wednesday.

On a charge of stealing a number of cattle Walter Joseph Bunting was sentenced by Mr. Justice Blair to-day to reformative detention not exceeding IB months.

His Honor previously reserved the point, raised by Mr. J. F. Strang, for accused, that the indictment was wrongly framed and that if an offence was disclosed at all it was one of obtaining cattle by false pretences. This morning His Honor said he had weighed this point and did not consider his direction to the jury that the prisoner was, guilty of the thsft of tho cattle was wrong. For that reason he refused to refer th® matter to the Court of Appeal. At the same time ha did not desire to prevent the defence from taking the matter to the Court of Appeal, and he would afford them the necessary facilities for so doing if they desired. Mr. Strang announced that Bnnticg did not desire to carry the matter further. •

The Judge said unquestionably accused intended to get money somehow, possibly to meet other debts over which he was having trouble. He got the cattle by means of a trick. He invented a fictitious purchaser, sold the cattle and put the proceeds into his own pocket. H® had in effect robbed his partner, who probably would have to foot the bill His llonor said he did not want to impose a penalty which would probably reflect on the prisoner's family, nevertheless the offenco was a very grave one indeed. He thought the case would be met if he sentenced accused to reformative detention not. exceeding 18 months.