A SHEEP-STEALER'S CONFESSION.

Timaru Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 5197, 18 July 1891, Page 3

A SHEEP-STEALER'S CONFESSION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TISIARU HERALD. Sir, — Your anonymous correspondent implies that Mr Wooding is now m possession of and enjoying Mr Campbell's property. If his story ie true the Wooding family aro guilty of a wicked conspiracy. There can be no mistake. It is, as you havo put it m your leading artiole, conspiracy and porjury on one sido or the other. This consideration induces me to offer a few comments upon the " confeßßion." Doubtless, this anonymous gentloman is a particularly intimate friend of Mr Campbell. He was, as Mr Hay sayß, "evidently desirous that Mr Campbell should not BUstain any loss," and also desired " to bo of assistance to Mr Campbell m the trial." At first his friendship for Mr Campbell although vory strong, held second place to his deairo " that, his own identity should not bo discovered." Ho tells Mr Hay not to tell Mr Campbell or any one olso from what source tho information was obtained or ho " would be found out." Ho thinks that if tho anonymous letter to Mr Hay was seen by anyono other than that gen'tlomon all would bo lost. Now, however, your anonymous contributor's friendliness towards Mr Campbell increases visibly. He is infinite m his mercy. His own safety is quite a second consideration To rehabilitate Mr Campbell m the opinion of the world he throws his own prudont rosolves to tbe winds. Foolish fellow ! Ho must now be quaking m hiß shoes, afraid of being " found out," as not only Mr Hay but Mr Campbell and all your readers nro furnished by him with the information which a very short timo ngo ho wished to have kept so strictly sosret. It is quite likoly that Mr Oumpbell'B ononyinous friend who risks bis liborty m thiß mad wuy has been sheepstealing for roony years. But to stand aolf-con-feßßed as a sheep Btoaler, and tbon to publicly thrust bis friendship upon Mr Campbell, ia too unkind, and gives that gentleman oaueo to exclaim " eavo me from my friends." I am, &0., 8. G. Haymond.