SUPREME COURT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 83, 14 May 1914, Page 10

SUPREME COURT.

CHRISTCHURCH CRIMINAL «, SESSIONS; After THE SUN went to press yesterday afternoon the Christehurch sessions of the Supreme Court were continued. His Honour, Mr Justice Denniston presided. Mr P. S. K. Macassey ■appeared for the Crown. , The hearing of the charge against Charles Richard Craythorne, t of having stolen 12 sheep, valued at £lO, the property of David Boyce, at Broomfield, in or about July, 1913, was continued.

John Iviunro, Inspector of Stock and Registrar of Brands for the North Canterbury and Kaikoura districts, arid star tioned at Amberley, gave evidence regarding the ear-marks and brands registered by the people concerned in the case, and other evidence in support of the prosecution. William J. Bowman, "Remington Kinley, and W. W. M'Rae also gave evidence for the Crown. TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGSCHARGE OF SHEEP-STEALING. Before his Honour Mr Justice Denniston this morning the Supreme Court resumed its hearing of the charge against Charles Richard Craythorne of haying stolen 12 sheep, valued at £ls, the property of David Bryce, at Broomfield, about the month of July, 1913. Mr Macassey conducted the prosecution for the Crown, and Mr S. G. Raymond, K.C., with him Mr W. 11. Hunter, appeared for accused. Thomas Scott Johnston, of, Glen-' mark, gave evide'nee that he had had' 40 years' experience with sheep, and he believed that the original earmark was two punches. The mark had been altered. When sheep were bought, it was usual to put in one's earmark, but where possible to leave the old ear-mark.

To Mr Raymond: Witness had not seen a fresh ear-mark put in so as to obliterate the old mark. Witness could not say • whether -it would be impossible to tell ear-marks of different dates after the scar had healed, which would take from a month to six weeks.

His Houqijt also, questioned the witness, wlio repeated that the obliteration of old ear-marks was unusual, and most .probably, would, be done deliberately. Thomas Retallick and James Richardson Maxwell, sheep farmers, also gave evidence as to haying seen the sheep arid having formed the opinion, that the earmarks had been altered so as to '.obliterate,, wholly or partially, the original ear-mark of two punch holes. Detective. Ernest Regan deposed that he had been at the,inuster at Turner's place on February 20," and had seen the sheep .claimed by Bryee at that'time. Ther.e. were eleven then, and a .twelfth a woolly" .which he already- had. The! sheep outside the court were the same. They had been in the possession of the police since then; • , . . Mr. Raymond,. addressing the. court/ said that he purposed calliilg the accused, who would, review his dealings with the flock during the 17, months he had been in possession of the place. Accused would ; also give evidence as to the dealings between himself and Bryce, and how he had seen "two slieep with his brand, - or, she believed, bearing his brand. Quite wrongly he had .later taken £wro of sry<;e '£;&heeft'and! hadbrajiiletl; them with his brand. This, lie admitted, was wrong and Indefensitjle. His !Hdnour :, lie pleads guilty "to stealing two 'sheep ? Mr .Raymond; Yes. His Honour said that it was a most, extraordinary thing that the case should have gone so far before ihis admission was made.

Mr " Raymond. explained that this was because' accused was charged with steal-, ing twelve sheepl He admitted having put his brand upon two, but denied any knowledge of improper dealings" with' the., other ten.. -

His Honour declared th>t he wanted plain words. ... Mr Raymond admitted that two sheep' had been stolen. '

Accused gave evidence that his first muster was at the end of December. The complete tally -was 1198. the' earmarkkas a foi;er.quarter / on tlje left, ear, and the brahdl was E7 (seven),. Witness detailed his various dealings with the floclc. "With the -exception of what he had admitted in regard to the two sheep, he denied having ever interfered with Voyce's sheep. Cross-examined by Mr Macassey? the accused stated that W had been sheep, farming at. Motunau some three months, before purchasing the Amberley place.. He was not sure Jwhietjier he regis' tered earmark at Motunau or not. His brand was registered. He denied asking Bowman t<i ' transfer his (Bowman's) earmark to witness.. He did not use his (earmark riuieh on account of its severity. He could riot -see any signs of punch holes in the sheep Munro drew his attention to. He agreed to sell the Amberley farm about July 7. . He registered his earmark on the day Turner looked over the place prior to inspection. .He had asked Munro to put the registration. of the earmark through on three occasions. Munro wa ( s waiting for the cancellation from Bowman. . Munro had given witness permission to use the earmark in October, 1912. He had told Boyce that he "would compensate him for two sheep. He had not offered to pay £IOOO to have the case dropped, though he admitted he would rather lose £IOOO than have it happen. He had been bluffed into arranging the meeting at Warner's, and the offer made then. His Honour asked the object of the Crown-in the line of cross-examination upon this point, and Mr MacaSsey said it was to show admission of guilt. Daisy Isabella Craythorne, wife of the accused, denied that there had been any attempt at a settlement in her presence, or that she or her husband had pleaded tor leniency.

Arthur William .lamieson, assistant manager of the Farmers' Go-operative, Association, stated that lie had done business with the accused for a number of years, and had found him correct. His Honour objected that this was not tlie sort of evidence wanted, and tlie witness stood down. *

Ernest Stackhou.se deposed, to having seen the "woolly" sheep at Mr Bryce's place, in company with Messrs Bryce and Turner. He could see no sign of recent alteration in "the earmark, although lie looked for it. The brand, however, had been tampered with. Witness could not remember saving to Mr Ketallick,. *fl won't have anything to do with it—tlie dirty —— deserves to go over the hills." Witness did riot go to Munro about the matter. Witness answered several questions as to words lie. was alleged to have used by stating it w as s0 a o° that.lie did not remember. v . . : His Honour pointed . out that the repetition of a question was not likely to improve the witness's uiemory. His

answer that he;, could- not remember had to be accepted. The witness denied that he had told the police thai he could say nothing to help them. He had told them that his evidence was typed out and in the hands of counsel for the defence; and if they wanted any information they could get it from'that. Witness was engaged to Mrs Craythorne \s sister.

To Mr Raymond: Witness was also second cousin to Mrs Boyce (Laughter).

This closed the case for the defence

Mr Raymond then addressed the jury, reviewing the facts of the case, Controverting any idea that accused had been engaged in systematic sheep-stealing. The two sheep which accused admitted having taken to '' even up'' his flock stood apart from the other ten cases alleged. When the one sheep, the "woolly" one, had been discovered accused had admitted having taken it and one other. Boyce had not known of this other at the time. The offers of compromise had been made under the stress of great excitement and pressure, and counsel submitted that Boyce had been out to get as much as possible. The document produced had been got not to be evidence against accused but to get gain for Boyce. He dsvelt upon the length of time which had elapsed between the discovery of the alleged thefts and the laying of the information. The evidence of, and Boyce should be weighed with all circumspection. It was to be noted that the number of sheep alleged to have bo6n stoleu increased as the chance of their getting their money decreased.(Proceeding.) WELLINGTON SESSIONS. Press Association. ' WELLINGTON, May 14. Four re-trials of perspns accused of offences in connection with the late strike are'being taken at the Supreme Court sessions. The first of these starte,d tct-day,. when. Robert Hil} was charged with taking part in the. riot in Taranaki" Street on November.4.-