ALLEGED SHEEP STEALING

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1930, Page 9

ALLEGED SHEEP STEALING

CHARGE AT NAPIER FAILS. By Telegraph.—Tress Association. ' Napier, Last Night. A plea of not guilty was entered at the Supreme Cou.i to-day in the case in which Edwin Charles Allison was charged with the theft of 21 sheep valued at £lB 10s, the property of Edward Henry Thomson, and alternatively with receiving the sheep knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. Crown evidence went to show that 19 of the sheep found in the woolshed on accused’s property were bearing Thompson’s earmark but the brand of accused’s brother, who was joint administrator with accused in the estate. The skins of two further sheep were found bearing the earmark of Thompson. The defence was that Allison knew little about farming, having been engaged with his brother Reuben, who had been on the place all his life, only since October last. Reuben Allison, who had pleaded • guilty to the same charge in the lower Court, did all the managing of the property and accused w r as nol aware that sheep belonging to Thompson were on the property. After a retirement of two hours. the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. Other charges of a similar nature against Allison and his brother Reuben will be heard to-morrow.