A PECULIAR CATTLE STEALING CASE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1829, 1 May 1888, Page 2

A PECULIAR CATTLE STEALING CASE.

0 (PJEU PRESS ASSOCIATION.) iNVEUOAuai^L, April 30, . Sophi.a K'dd wng brought qp at the PoUoo Oourt to-d<iy on a charge of alleijod ctttlo ato^lln,,'. The eaee for the pro3ccutinn w»b concluded, and the examination wus fldjournud for the evidenco for tho dofrnoH, whtah will be an attempt t-> prove an nllbi and mistaken identity. The evidonco to -day showed that a Bottler at Furoat HID, named Robb whoaa land fu3j <ma t'm- 1 -, of accaaed, mliaed all hid oattle ex epfc owe, too heavy to travel ; tint on ihatduy a horaewoman, dressed m widow's we. da, drove thaae cattle Into Mataaia Bridge^ Blxteen miloa off, where an auction sule wan Roiog on, reproaented that aho w; '$ Mrs from Fortroao, about thirty milea tVeouthwar^, that ho' 1 huaband uarj 111, and she h.\d been compelled to bring the cittlo herself, that she wanted them cold at once without reserv» and the mondy paid, aa übo had a baby it home. In accordance with inetruotionn I thia was done, and a cheque for tho fttnoant ro.\lised given to her. Witnoasoa h>id no doubt that aocua jd w;io tba woman A \Tom<>n waa eeoa d" itfi ' L 'K the u^ck from tho dircotiouof Foroet Hill, and the b. A .!)^ mm aftojfvyarda oaw her returning that way, and having hoard $t tho Bale tint tho womnn was from Fortroße pimaod a remark to hor that that waa not the tOAi. Tho moat duraaglng part of tho evldoaoo waa that of two o erltu In the Colonial Bank, luvorcarglll, who deposed that aocuaed, four days la'.er, cashed tho cheque givou for oattle, and aignod it " Martha Allon.'* Theße wllneßaca were certain ac to her identity, aa they had coon her frequently m agricultural show rlngß, where 6ho hi>o for yeara held premier poaition aa horeo woman. TJie proaecution creates great intereat, acoused beln^ bo well known. Her brother waa looantly beforo tho Coart on a ohargo of allogo^ aheep ateallug, bnt the oh«« was dlsmisatd.