Magisterial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 340, 16 June 1869, Page 2

Magisterial.

«v CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.) Sheep Stealing. — John Stacey was brought up on remand, charged with having stolen sheep, the property of Mr John Cordy, sheep-farmer, Malvern Hills. The evidence given at the first hearing of the «case was iv proof of prisoner's arrest by constable Mullins, and the digging up of a sheepskin, bearing prosecutor's brand, within a short distance of the corner of prisoner's house. Mr Cottrell appeared for the defence, and Inspector Pender conducted the case for the police. The following evidence was adduced. Henry Barker: I am brother-in-law to prisoner, and have been working for him about twelve months. I have resided in the same house with him during that lime. Prisoner's land is on one boundary of Mr Cordy's run. About the 10th or llth of January last, prisoner brought a lamb home. It was night, and I was in bed. I saw the lamb alive in the house next morning. It wus ear marked, but I forget what it was. He had told me the previous night that he should go to Mr Cord> ..fora lamb. When I saw the lamb next morning, ho said he had fetched it from there. I saw him skin and dress the lamb the same morning. The carcase was eaten in the house. Ido not know what was done with the skin. In the early part of the April following, I saw prisoner bring a sheep to the house. It was between 9 and 10 o'clock at night. He left it outside the door, and said be had taken it out of his paddock, where some of Mr Cordy 'B sheep then were. lam quite sure he said it was one of Mr Cordy's mob. I do not remember whether it was a ewe or a wether, but it was old and very poor. I cannot say whether or not it was branded. It was killed by prisoner, and the carcase cooked. The skin was buried close to the corner of the house. It was the same place win-re the constable found the one produced. A few days subsequent to the one on which prisoner brought the sheep home he asked me to help him to drive a mob of Mr Cordy's sheep from the Downs on to the flat. I did so, and when we were taking them through a narrow cutting prisoner rushed in amongst them, seized one, and put it into his pigsty,

which was close at hand. This was between two and three o'clock in the afternoon, and killed the sheep the same evening. I am quite certain it was one of Mr Cordy's mob. I think it was a wether. The skin bore Mr Cordy's brand — A..P. conjoined. I do not know what was done with it. Prisoner had no steep of his own at lhat time. By Mr Cottre'l *■ Whilst I was with prisoner he bought a K've sheep from time to time. I know of two which he got from Mr Buller. He also b-ugl t half a carcase from Mr Cordy. 1 do not Inow whether he bought a live one from Mr Cordy. Ido not know of any other sheep b-ing brought by him from Mr Cordy's except tho.3 I ha.c mentioned. There were some skins knocking about prisoner's premise- when I went to live there. I do not know of more than one skin being buried. T sa*** the sheep to" which this belonged skinned b/ prisoner. I did not assist in the operation. J w_9 not asked to do so. The carcase wa. us.d generally in the house. I saw prisoner dig the hole for the skin. I did not assist him in any way. This was in the early part of April. I did not aay anything about it to any one until the beginning of last week, when I told Mr Cordy. I had a quarrel with prisoner on the Monday ni^ht previous. It was not in consequence of thia that I . told Mr Cordy. My wife _red children resided in the house with prisoner and myself. A boy has ;also been living there recently. Charles ; Cordy : I am the son of John Cordy, owner iof the Ilororata st .tion, Mulvern Hills. lam jthe manager of the station. There nre sheep [on the run. Our brand is AP conjoined in red. Prisoner's land adjoins the run, and is about three-quarters of a mi'.e from my father's house. In April last our sheep were mailing neur to prisoner's land. On the llth inst. I went with constable Mullius to prisoner's bouse, and saw him dig up a skin near the buiidiug. The earth appeared firm. The skin must have been buried for some time. I identify the skin produced as bearing our brand. Ido not know of any ons else in this 'province who has a similar brand. lam certain the skin belonged to one of our sheep. 1 also saw the consUble take .a skin off a hedge near the prisoner's house. It had evidently belonged to a small sheep, but bore no brand. Prisoner has purchased mutton from u_, but never had a live sh=ep. John '.Cordy : lam the owner of Horatio station . J know the prisoner. In April last he sent me word that my sheep might run on his stubble. I accordingly sent them there in charge of a boy. The boy was supposed to Btop with ."them all day, and at night they were put into a paddock. I have not missed any sheep, as they are so scattered I could not tell without counting them. I recollect seeing prisoner with t onstable Mullins at my house Prisoner wanted to see me alono in order to make the matter up, but the constable would not allow him. I said to prisoner " I am surprised at' your robbing me in this manner, for I have been a good master to you." He replied, "Y. s, I know you have, and I hope you will forgive me" Prisoner admitted at the same time that the skin produced, which the constable had dug up near his house, had belonged to one of my 6heep. The skin bears my brand. Prisoner has never to my knowledge had a sheep with the skin on. 1 am certain he has not during the last twelve months. He might possibly have had one before then. He has occasionally purchased carcase mutton from me. This. concluded the evidence, and, prisoner declining to make any statement, was committed to take his trial at the next session of the. Supreme Court, his Worship offering to accept bail in two sureties of £150 each. LYTTELTON. (Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.) Dkunk and Incapable. — William Ander ion, charged with this offence, was dismissed with a caution.