THEFT OF SHEEP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22172, 27 July 1935, Page 16

THEFT OF SHEEP

DIFFICULT TO DETECT - ■ •. SENTENCE OF HARD LABOUR COMMENT BY JUDGE Sentence of 18 months' imprisonment with hard labour was paused by Mr. Justice Fair in the Supreme Court yesterday on William Reginald who had pleaded guilty to the theft of eight shc-ep, the property of William Henry Peed, of Puhipuhi. Mr. Turner said prisoner was 35 years of age, and was known as a particularly hard and industrious worker. Owing to the wet summer he had not been able to get his cut timber out, and running short of cash he had fallen into the j temptation to get mutton in this way i for the camp. Mr. Peed, whose sheep j had been stolen, had so much confidence in prisoner's ability to re-habili-tate himself that be was prepared to give him a timber-cutting contract on bis own property. Mr. Hubble, Crown Prosecutor, said the offence of sheep-stealing was a serious one, and it was a difficult one to detect. The crime was all the more serious in this case, because the man in charge of a camp might easily lead others into bad ways which would result in their being charged with ofiences. His Honor said that in offences of this class sentence must be imposed that would not only be a punishment, but a deterrent to others. The offence was especially grave when it was done by a man who was employing others, and should be in a position to pay his way honestly. There was no doubt that he could have got credit from Mr. Reed for the meat he required. He had persuaded one and had endeavoured to persuade others to go out with him to join him in killing these sheep, but to their credit they refused to join tho expedition. The Maoris in the camp had naturally looked upon him for a lead. The report of his character and general reputation did not assist His Honor in considering a very lenient sentence. He would be sentenced to imprisonment for IS months, with hard labour. !