THEFT OF COW ALLEGED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20441, 18 December 1929, Page 22

THEFT OF COW ALLEGED.

CHARGE AGAINST DROVER

COMMITTAL FOR TRIAL.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN COIIRESI'ONDENT. ] NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday.

A charge of stealing a Jersey cow, valued at £l7, the property of Albert Thomas Bourke, of Lowgarth, was fire ferred against E. Smith, drover, of Stratford, wh;i appeared in tho Stratford Police Court to-day before Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M. Accused was further charged with attempted theft of a Jersey cow. He entered a [ilea of not guilty on both charges.

Albert Bourke said that on October 5 six dry cows and 12 calves got out on to Hunter Road, and from there on to the Eltham Road. Ho saw them on tho road at 9 a.m. When they were brought back by his son, two hours later, it was found that one cow was missing. After a fow days witness advertised for the lost cow. From an inquiry witness ascertained that accused had driven four fat cows along the Eltham Road to Mangatoki. He saw accused on October 7 and explained his loss. He asked accused if he saw the cows on the road and accused replied that he was a stranger to tho road. In consequence of what Constable Townsend had told him on October 10, witness sent his boy to a farm at Ngaere, when the cow was brought back. Defence was reserved and accused was committed for trial at the Supremo Court at New Plymouth.