TO-DAY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1652, 2 September 1887, Page 3

TO-DAY.

(Before Mr John OlHvler, Eiq., B.M ) DRUHKBIWKSS. Bernard Collins was fined 5a or 24 faonri, for drunkenness. PITTT lAROBNT. | V John Berg charged with stealing ooal Tftlce (fcfc from Tucker and Reatell'a yardr, pleaded RDilty and was discharged with a caution from the R.M. SHEIF STBAIING. William Braiding wae charged with ' iteftUng one aheep, value 13s 6d at Banktide, the property of the New Zealand • Jjoan and Mercantile Company. A|U>Qf SUflholai d»poie4 that h« wu %

drover m the employ of the New Z island Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, t and took delivery on Bth August of a mob of sheep at Ohertsey to drive to Belfast. I Camped at a fenced paddock near Banki aide on the night of 9th August. Saw the • prisoner when camped. Prisoner's house ; is next to the paddock. Prisoner asked for a sheep and witness replied that he could i not give him one, as he only had the i correct number. When he delivered at Belfast he found one sheep short. On his way back he caw some sheepsklis hanging at Braiding's hat. One skin had the same brand as the sheep he mißaed. Cross examined : Went to Rakaia and informed Mr Seoretan of the loss of the sheep ; then Informed the police, and on Sunday morning went to Braiding's place and found the skin there, Braiding was i there and said that he found one sheep m a gully which he had brought home and killed, and that he had often done the same thing and thought it no harm, i Braiding showed us where he had found the sheep. The sheep was a crossbred owe, two or four tooth, m very good order and cost 13s 6d. The prisoner offered to pay for the sheep when we went to his place on the Sunday morning. H. H. Seoretan said that he drove Nicholas and Constable Blaok to Banktide Railway station and saw prisoner, who said he hoped he would not get into trouble as ho had no fraudulent intention. He then pointed ont where the sheep had been found and said he drove it idto the gully and osughfc it quite easily, as it was weak. Witnaas knew the brand of the sheep, It was the same as that of those that had been bought at Ohertsey for freezing. Prisoner said ha was m the hahit of asking drovers for au odd sheep when they were m the paddocks. He offered to pay for the shoap The paddock had very little feed m it. Constable Blaok Baid he served Braiding with a sammona on 25th Auguat, and prisoner Bald he killed the sheep bat Ind no fraadienb intent In no doing. Pr'soner'a boy eald the sheep was m the gully and Mb father had killed it. The honse where prisoner lives is over a quarter of a mile from where the sheep was found, The R.M. g»ve the prisoner a severe reprimand and sentenced him to seven days imprisonment, and allowed two days expenses to Mr Nicholas. This comlpeted the bueiness, and the Court rose.