DELIBERATE STALKING

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 104, 26 January 1935, Page 21

DELIBERATE STALKING

Theft of a Lamb THREE MEN CONVICTED A finding that a lamb had been deliberately .stalked was made by Mr. W. F Stilwell, t S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington', . yesterday when three njpn were convicted on a charge of stealing the animal. The defendants were Robert Edward Cobbe, a painter, aged 32, Hector Lillyman Hailwood, a painter, aged -8, and Raymond Charles Hill, a labourer, aged 33. The lamb, the property of W G. Smith, Paekakariki, was valued at £l. Each of the defendants was fined £3 and costs. — . .. A witness called by DetectiveSergeant T. Y, Hall, who prosecuted, gave evidence that lie saw the men catch a sheep. Previously one of the men had crept up behind a sheep, but it had got away. Evidence was also given by Constable R. Smith, of Paekakariki, and Detective W. Kane. Cobbe said he and his companions had 15 or 20 beers that day. Returning from a fishing trip witness ran over a lamb, which was injured. He thought to put it out of misery, and it was put. over a fence and rolled down a hill. They realised they had done a stupid thing. Hailwood had nothing to do with it except look out for motorists. x „ Answering Detective-Sergeant Hall, witness admitted two previous convictions and that he had been in trouble, though not convicted, for impersonating a policeman. He denied having taken sheep without permission from his uncle’s farm at Judgeford. Hailwood said he was “pretty drowsy” at the time. He watched for cars while the others skinned the sheep. Mr.’ Hardie Boys, for defendants, said Cobbe was married but bad no family. Hailwood was single but was the sole support of an aged mother. Hill was single, with a previous conviction for theft. The court should take cognisance of the fact that while defendants had pleaded guilty they desired to be heard.