TWO CHARGES OF STEALING CATTLE

Chronicle (Levin), 16 October 1947, Page 5

TWO CHARGES OF STEALING CATTLE

WANGANUI, Oct. lffi Two charges of stealing cattle Wfere preferred against a married m'an, Thomas Benjamin Raymond, a fariher, of Westmere, Wanganui, before Jus-. tices in the Police Court today. Defendant pleaded not guilty and was (committed to the Supreme Court for trial. The first charge alleged "the theft of - 13 head of eattle of a total value of £104, the property of Cecil JameS Check, and the second alleged the theft of two cows, three bulls alid nine heifers of a total val'uo of £64, thC property of James MeKenzie Lowi The principal withess for the pbliee was a young inan Who ,was eliarged a week ago with ca'ttle stealing but whose name' was suppressOd aftef hC had pleaded guilty. This witness told in evidence that three head of ca'ttle were seen wandering oii the road at Westmere and he and aecused collected these ahd oth'ers thfev found and drovC them to CheCk 's paddock which they entere'd ahd drove out all the eatt.ffi , ihey found there. They feet out to drive the eattle to Raetihi but tWieh lost theih dire to fog and traffic. They then decided to ring the ranger and tell him to look out for eattle. WithesS rang tlie ranger-. Replying to Detective Shrgeant Robertson witness said that the qhes"tion of the'ih being caugh't w'as dis'--cussed and accused had said: '"You are single. If anybody is to do time yoii can take it and I will £ive yoii a ffesh start when you come out." In regard to the second charge the same witness said in evidene'e that.tke cattle had been taken to Waverley but ' on the way witness had sol'd four Cows, eight lreifers and a bull to a .'mau named Jarvis-, get.ting as payment £46 by cheque. Accused, when h'e heard of the deal, witness said, "went & bit erook", saying the cattle were worth over £60. Witness cashfed the cheque and gave accused Ihe mohey*, ace'osed giving him £5 for droving and Hotel expCnses.