THEFT OF CATTLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21129, 11 March 1932, Page 12

THEFT OF CATTLE.

HEIFERS DRIVEN AWAY. MOB ON GREAT SOUTH ROAD. LABOURER TO BE SENTENCED. [FROM 01'11 OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] PUKEKOHE. Thursday. He had 35 head of cattle, but was able to show receipts for the purchase of only 19," said Constable 11. J. Olsen, of Alerter, in the Pukekohe Police Court to-day, in giving evidence on charges against an elderly man, William Fordbam, labourer, of Ellerslie, of stealing 13 heifers, one t lie property of Dick Lavas, a resident of Ellerslie, and the other 32 the property of Ernest Victor Hancock, farmer, of Bombay. Messrs. I). It. Hamilton and .1. B. Sirn, J.P.'s presided. Lavas said accused had been renting a bach at Ellerslie from him for six weeks. He left en the morning of February 23. A six-months old heifer was also missing that morning. Witness went along the Croat South Road to locate accused. Ho came up with him between Pokeno and Mercer early on the morning of February 25 driving a mob of cattle south. Accused said lie did not know that his lieiier was in the mob, but if it was, he would pay him for it. Witness said ho found the heifer with the cattle. Hancock said he missed 32 18-months-old heifers from one of his paddocks at Bombay during the night of February 24. There were 14. About noon next day be went with the police to Mercer and identified his 12 heifers in a mob in a paddock there.

Constable Olson said Ibis was the mob accused had been driving, numbering 35. Accused at first said his name was Harry Thompson and he was taking the cattle through to a taiin at Pukelutu, King Country, for a man named Fordham. He added that Fordham had the remaining receipts for tlm cattle. Ho later admitted that his name was Fordham. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supremo Court at Auckland for sentence. Bail was refused. Accused was fined £1 and costs, in default seven days' imprisonment, for tiio theft of a dog, valued at £3, at Otahnhu on the night of February 22. Evidence was given that he liad the dog with bini when arrested at Mercer.