SHEEP KILLED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19125, 21 September 1936, Page 13

SHEEP KILLED

ALSATIAN DOG’S WORK DAMAGES FOR FARMER Claiming that his losses of sheep were due lo the depreciations of his neighbour’s Alsatian dog, Arthur Eustace Palmer, farmer, of Nganui, was successful in. an action for damages against; Sidney Ernest Whitehead in the Magistrate’s Court at To Arolm. Air. Gilchrist appeared for the plaintiff, while Air. J. 0. 'favlor, of Hamilton, appeared for Whitehead. Air. Gilchrist said the case was unusual in that while no one actually saw the defendant’s dog worrying the slice]) a very strong chain of circumstantial evidence pointed to defendant’s Alsatian as the culprit. In evidence plaintiff stated that on the morning of duly .1 he found a number of his sheep, including three purebred Southdown rams, dead or injured in the paddock, while the whole flock were in an excited state. He went over to the defendant's farm and was informed that the defendant’s Alsatian had been chained up all night. He accepted Hint statement as true until his sons and neighbours pointed out a number of “clues” pointing to Whitehead's dog. These included the finding near the dead sheep of a piece of wire that had been used to chain up the Alsatian. The drag marks of a chain had also been found. These corresponded with the markings formed by the chain on 'Whitehead’s (log. Alsatian dog hairs had been found on the dead sheep and also on a gate leading to the property. The dog’s flank was also bloodstained. Through the dog registrar the Alsatians in the county wore traced and it was found that there were only four in the wholo county, while ,of these the nearest Alsatian other than that of Whitehead was some miles away. Corroborative evidence was given by plaintiff's sons and a number of neighbours. Giving evidence, the defendant was describing at length his method of tying u]) his dog when the magistrate, AH'. F. il. Lcvion, interrupted, stilting tlmt judgment would be for tlx* plaintill' for f!) Ms with costs.