SHEEP STEALING.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13728, 17 March 1915, Page 3 (Supplement)

SHEEP STEALING.

James Stubbington (23), Frederick Stubbington (18), and John Charles (16), of Takaka, who pleaded guilty at the Magistrate's Court to a charge of stealing a sheep, the valu>» of £1, the property of Mr. Manson, of Taupo Bay, came up for sentence. Mr. O. Y. Fell appeared for the Crown, Mr C. J. Harley asked for probation on behalf of Charles, who he said was of good character. His Honour said that he was not going to send him to prison. Referring to James Stubbingtsn, His Honour said that he had been previously convicted for the theft of a goose and fined. The report of the probation officer was that he was an obliging and hard-working boy. The police reported that he had been dismissed from several situations on account of idleness. Frederick Stubbington was reported to be of good character, and the only charge against him was of cruelty in killing a pig. John Charles and Frederick Stubbington were each admitted to probation for one year, and wer© ordered to pay £2 2s towards the cost of the prosecution. Addressing James Stubbington, His Honour said tho law did not allow him to admit him to probation. He warned accused to mend his ways and habits of idleness, otherwise if he came before the Court he would receive a sentence commensurate with the fact that he was unworthy of mercy. Accused would be convicted and ordered to * come up for sentence when called ' apoD and to pay £4 7s towards the - cost of the prosecution. His Honour warned accused that he must report • himself regularly to the police.