ALLEGED SHEEP STEALING.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1915, Page 5

ALLEGED SHEEP STEALING.

A DROVER ACQUITTED. }\ By Telegraph.—Press Association'! '< ' Wanganui, Last Nighftj Tho Supreme Court was occupied sll day in hearing a charge of sheep-steal- i ing against a drover named Samuel Wilson. The facts of the case were thafc.a, Waverlcy farmer named Cuve missed .-, 200 sheep towards the cud of July, Opitd '« subsequently ascertained that th?y l»d ' ' been trucked to Fielding and sold thcjle. Accused admitted trucking the sheep ito Wavcrloy, and said ho was acting >qn the direction of a stranger who gave the name of Stevens, lie had taken the sheep' from an aecomytodalton; padJdflc at Waverley, some distance frjrtn Cave's farm, and had sent them forward; The police gave evidence that no man of Stevens' desciiption coild Ibe found. Evidence was given by droviers that it was a usual practice to lift sheep,from any locality on instructions of'strangers,' atid forward them to various sales. Justice Edwards said that if the practice, existed it was a very dangerous and loose way of doing business. He considered that in alt cases , drovers should satisfy themselves wha were the rightful owners of stock, The jury returned a verdict of not. guilt}'.