TWO MEN CONVICTED FOR KILLING OPOSSUMS DURING CLOSE SEASON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18805, 6 July 1929, Page 6

TWO MEN CONVICTED FOR KILLING OPOSSUMS DURING CLOSE SEASON.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON. July 6. Reserved decision was given by Mr Page, S.M., in the case of Jack Horgan, George Linton and lan Mackay, three men charged with being unlawfully in possession of opossum skins, using poison for taking or killing opossums, and taking or killing opossums during the close season. Mr Page said that where men were found deep in the bush travelling along a line on which poison had been laid, gathering the fruits of illicit poisoning, and having in their possession a tin containing material used in poisoning, he thought the proper inference to be drawn was that they were parties to unlawful poisoning, and the explanation given by them was not adequate to displace this inference. In regard to Mackay, all the facts pointed to the strong probability that, even if Mackay himself did not handle them, he was a party to and abetted the taking of skins. There was, however, just an element of doubt as to the part played by Mackay in these illicit operations, and he must be given the benefit of that doubt. The charges against Mackay were, therefore, dismissed. Linton and Horgan were each fined £2O and costs, including counsel's fee £5 ss, on the first charge, and ordered to pay costs on the other charges.