HEIFER ILLEGALLY SHOT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21554, 27 July 1933, Page 13

HEIFER ILLEGALLY SHOT

'THEFT OF TIIE CARCASE Three men before court COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE [from ouh own cohrespondknt] TR AWAMUTU, "Wednesday Fines of £2O, £ls and £ls respectively were imposed on three young nu/rried men,' Ronald G. Brown, Norman Hall and Alfred J. Cairns, . who were charged in the To Awaniutu Magistrate's Court to-day with illegally shooting a black heifer, valued at £3, the property of Eric Anderson, and stealing the carcase. Evidence showed that the three accused were residents of the Makeokeo district, on the slopes of Pirongia Mountain, and on May 2G they went across the back part of Anderson's property while Anderson was absent. Bijpwn, it was stated, actually shot the heifer and called his companions to the spot, remarking tluit ho was " meat hungry" and would now be ablo to have a feed. The carcase was cut up, each man taking n portion. The magistrate, in convicting the men, said the offence was not similar tol' what was usually known as cattle stealing, otherwise he would have sent the three of them to the Supreme Court. It was more of a foolish escapade, and lie was taking as lenient ;» view as possible of the offence. He might be stretching the scope of his powers in taking the case at all, but lie felt that justice would best bo served in/ that way. He would not send them to gaol, but the penalty of a fairly heavy fine.would no doubt make them realise the seriousness of their offence.