NOT GUILTY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 43, 12 February 1946, Page 5

NOT GUILTY

WAIMANA FARMER ACQUITTED

ALLEGED THEFT OF CATTLE

Tlie trial of a farmer Bertie William Hughqs } juriior (.Air Hodgson) ? on charges of theft of cattle or of receiving stolen cattle was concluded on Friday before Mr Justice Cornish. The Crown Prosecutor, Air V. R. alleged that an April 2of • last year accused stole three heifers valued at £2B and three cows valued at £l6 from Maoris at Ruatoki or alternatively that lie knowingly re- - ceived two stolen heifers valued at £2O and two stolen cows valued at £B.

Evidence was given by Maori farmers that cattle had been driven last April from Ruatoki to Waimana for accused, and that stray cattle, had been picked up on the way in ac-> cordancc with accused’s instructions. Air Hodgson said, it was alleged that the accused had been an accomplice of a Maori who had been convicted of the theft of the cattle. It was quite clear that cattle were sold by one of the Maoris to the accused? and a criminal charge had been laid because the debt had not been paid. Apart from one statement by a Ala ori that accused had told him to pick up stray , cattle there was nothing to show that the accused had been guilty of taking these stock. Extra cattle had been given to the accused by a Alaori to pay a debt. The jury returned after a short, absence with a verdict of acquittal and the accused was discharged.