A SHEEPSTEALER'S CONFESSION.

Timaru Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 5196, 17 July 1891, Page 3

A SHEEPSTEALER'S CONFESSION.

TO TUB EDITOR OP THE TIMARU HERALD,, Sir, — With reference to the anonymous lettor which oppeared m your issue on Monday undor the above heading a circumstance occurred bi-fore the trial which suggests that tho communication may not bo a hoax. Some littlo timo before the trial I also received an anonymous letter which professed to give information which would be of assistance to Mr Campbell. The writer was evidently desirous that Mr Campbell should not sustain any loss, but ho was st ill more desirouß that his own identity should not be discovered. He asked me not to toll my client or anyone ebe from what source I got the information which the lettor contained or ho (the writer) " would bo found out." Thero was nothing m tho lottor to indicate who the writer was, aud what struck me at tho time us being singular, there wua nothing iv tho nuturo of tho information which ho gave to account for his wish for secrecy, 'lhat letter was not a hoax for I ascertained that up to a cort iin point tho information was correct, and it was given m ovident good faith that it would be of ÜBsistatice to Mr Campbell m tbo [trial. Poseibly tho loiter which you published yostorday ia not so much a hoar either |ns at firat sight it would appear. A largo number of sheep wore reported to tho polico ! as , haviDg boen missed icim tho Orari [ Eelato about tho timo your anonymous cor- | respondent mentious us tbo date of his and hia mute's depredations, and if hia '' confeßsion " is true as to that, his stafcemont may aleo bo true that he etole 50 of Mi- Wooding* hoggets at tha ew.o timo, Assuming tbut eUto of facts I can well understand why I should have a correspondent auxiouß that no harm Bhould befal Mr Campbell, aud at tho samo limo do-irous that his own namo should not be prominent m (he oase, or known either to Mr Campbell or to myself. I am, &o , J. Hay. Timaru, Tuesday, July I_.