A CURIOUS CASE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15828, 27 May 1919, Page 6

A CURIOUS CASE.

FARM MANAGER CHARGED WITH

THEFT,

KILLS SHEEP FOR HIS FRIENDS.

At the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon tiie trial of C. R. Marmont for theft of three sheep aud a horse the property of Miss Marshall, was concluded. after we had gone to press. The hearing of the evidence revealed some curious features.

It was admitted by the accused that a horse was sold by him to J. McDonald for £9.

T. L. Mills, licensee of the Commercial Hotel said that the accused stayed at ■witness’s hotel at the latter end of last year. Mr Aitken brought to the stables adjoining the hotel, a lamb which it was desired that witness should kill. Witness did so. One quarter was given to witness for his trouble.

A. A. Aitken, stock agent employed by F. A. Suisted, said that the accused liought some stock through his agency. "Witness was with accused when he took delivery of the sheep. They brought one animal down to town as he was told that Miss Marshall had asked that whenever a sheep was killed portion should be left 3Z Suisted's office for her to call for. The accused came round with the meat next day. It remained two days in the office and then witness gave it away. George Spence Simpson, said some sheep were put in his paddock on St. John’s Hill by .a man giving the name of Marmont. One of the sheep was killed in witness’s shed. To the best of his recollection witness skinned and cut np the carcase. Portion of the carcase was given to witness, and the balance taken to the Commercial Hotel. Another sheep was killed and the skin left on witness’s property. lb Mr Mackay: The half sheep was to be given as payment for grazing. Mr Mills recalled, said he received a portion of a sheep from the last witness to deliver to a Mrs Marsh. It was from Marmont. The lady called later and took the meat away Mr F. A. Suisted said that ho was advising Miss Marshall on stock matters. He went to Simpson’s paddock where -he found the sheep Marmont had purchased. He counted them and found that there were eight short. In a shed on Simpson’s property he found two skins with brands tallying to those in the paddock. He looked the pad-lock up and took the skins to the police station At the Carbine stables se found another skin with brand corresponding with that on the other two skins. Two or three days later witness found the accused at the Aramoho hotel. He admitted to witness that three of the sheep had been killed and said that five more were at Wanganui East. They had broken away. Marmont had told witness that Levin and Coy. were Miss Marshall’s agents. To Mr Mackay: The sheep had been branded by the vendor. He could not say how long the stock had been in his hands for sale. Ho was not appointed Miss Marshall’s supervisor until after Marmont had purchased the sheep. Constable Taylor, stationed at Taukau, in the Waikato district stated he bad arrested accused at Pokino near Mercer. When witness arrived at the house the accused tried to get away, cutting himself on some broken glass in the attempt. When arrested the accused asked if it was for wife maintenance. .Witness asked if there was anything else. The accused asked if it was about sheep and went on to say that be was driving sheep from Martoii to Wanganui and killed one and sold it for 25s to Chavannes. He considered he had a right to sell sheep to pay his way. The accused, Claude Randolph Marmont, in the course of his evidence, said that he bought stock from Mr Suisted for the farm after consulting Mr Izett, who also told him that Miss Marshall had an aoount at Levin’s. He bought three horses in Wanganui. One was rather heavy, and this one he sold later for .£9 in cash. Witness arranged to buy another horse, delivery of which he was to take later, for £6 10s. Part of the .£9 was spent in expenses in looking for horses for his employer. Witness had asked Miss Marshall for permission to kill sheep out of the flock for his own account. Exiled three and had booked them against his wages or any other money which might come to him. -To Mr Marshall. He never paid for the horse he purchased for £6 10s, nor did he take delivery of it. Ho put an order through Levin and Coy. for £1 10s for which sum he purchased a pup for himself. He booked the amount against himself. The pup was afterwards lost. Mr Marshall: “If you could get money from Levin’s why did you kill the sheep?” ‘T booked them against myself ” “Taking the first one, you killed it to give away to your friends as a favour?” -Yes.” “And the some would applv to the other two”? “One of them l“sold the other. It had been hurt and would not have travelled to the farm. I spent the money and would have accounted to Miss Marshall if I had not been discharged.” “The week you spent in town , was spent in flying about in motor cars”? “Aes.” “Did you pay for this with orders on Levin and Co?” “I was drinking at the time and do not remember about it.” “Do you deny that about £5 in orders had been issued for cars? ‘T don’t deny The accused admitted that in addition to advancing a week’s wages. Miss Marshall a fow days later advanced him a further sum of £5. In reply to Mr Marshall the accused admitted to a number lof previous convictions at Auckland, including two convictions for false pretences. , The jury failed to agree and the matter was adjourned by his Honor till this morning.