R. M. COURT, CLYDE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 541, 30 August 1872, Page 2

R. M. COURT, CLYDE.

Friday, August 23. (Before E. H. Carew, Esq., R.M., and \V. A. Low, Eaq., J.P.) Ah Fat was charged by Constable Morkane of Alexandra, with having no visible means of support. Mr. P. J. "Wilson for the accused. The evidence of the Police was, that the accused had been previously convicted, andou account of several robberies having been committed at theTeviot, from whence he came, he was arrested on suspicion—when arrested he said he had come from M'Crae’a Flat, he had in his possession over 51. in cash. The Bench said there was no evidence to connect the accused with the robberies, and having money in his possession, the charge could'not be sustained. Dismissed. Mr. Low here left the Bench. Stewart M.'Comb was charged with stealing twenty-one sheep, the property of Messrs. Campbell and Low, of Omaha and Galloway Stations. Mr. F. J. Wilson conducted the case for the prosecution. Mr. W. W. Wilson for the ace used, and pleaded not guilty. The accused appeared in his recognizance of Bail Argumentasto jurisdiction arose, whether the Court had power th deal with the charge summarily. Mr. W. W. Wilson withdrew his plea, and said he had no intention to raise point of argument, if necessary could appeal afterwards. Mr. W. A. Low was examined and said. 1 bought from the accuse- 1 a mob of about two hundred sheep on July 9. The sale took placj at Galloway Station ; there was a document of purchase (produced). They were described as the balance of a mob he had purchased from Mr Glassford of Matakanui Station, and branded 0 on the rump. He said there were about, one hundred and sixty, they had broken nut of bis paddock, and got amongst my sheep, he afterwards said there might be one hundred and eighty which number he guaranteed if I would pay for them at once. I was averse to purchasing them, and 1 did so purely on the understanding that accused would purchase no more sheep till be had some paddocks to put them in. By Mr. W. W Wilson.—l understood from M’Comb, and from general rumor, that I was purchasing about one hundred and eighty ; had there been one thousand eight hundred, I should not have purchased. James Smith, sworn-said, I am shepherd in the employ of Messrs. Campbell and Low, and reside at Black’s Ho. 1. There are sheep on the run branded O, they were purchased from M‘Comb. I frequently see them, sometimes on the run. sometimes in the paddocks at Black’s No. 1. On the 12th of August I saw twenty one sheep branded 0 andX, in Mr. M‘Comb’s si'lighter yard, there wcie also eight or ten skins hanging on the fence similarly branded. By Mr. W. W Wilson,—! am still in the employ of Mr. Low, I am on the run frequently, last night I saw twenty or ; thirty sheep on the run branded 0 and X, within the last week I have seen as many as fifty in one day I believe there are over a hundred of these particular sheep on the run. |Constab!e M‘Gann, depoted,—l know accused, he resides at Black’s, I remember having a conversation with him at the beginning of July last, about some sheep, he said they bad broken nut of a paddock and had got mixed with Mr. Low’s sheep. Some time afterwards he told me he had sold them to Mr. Low. On the 17th inst, having received intimation from accused that he was going to slaughter cattle I visited his yards to inspect them, when at the yard I noticed a number of killed sheep and skins and two live sheep, he said he was killing the sheep for the pigs, and while I was there he killed the two sheep, the sheep and skins were branded 0. On the 19th inst I went to accused’s house on the authority of a search warrant. I told him I wanted to s arch for skins, he showed me about ninety or one hundred, the most of them were branded O on the rump, I seized one (produced) branded 0, and took accused into custody. By Mr. W. W. Wilson. There was no a' tempt to conceal the skins either at the yards or at the lonise, J. P. Davidson deposed that ho was the manage of Mr. Glassford’s Matakanui Station. Remembered a sale being effected in April last, to Mr M‘Combe, of a lot of sheep. They were branded X. M ‘Combe afterwards branded them 0. In June they strayed on to Mr. Glassford’s run, and four hundred and eighty-nine were returned. Six hundred and thirty-three were originally purchased. W, A. Low, re-examined by Mr. W. W. Wilson. —The agreement of purchase produced represents sheep supposed to have In en stolen. No delivery has been given, and no money passed. The case was then adjourned till Saturday, the 24ih inat., at noon, the accused being admitted to bail in his own recognizance of 50/. Saturday, Aug. 24. (Before E. II Carew, Esq., R.M.) The adjourned case against S. M‘Comb was resumed. John Cole Chappie deposed that he. knew the accused. Accused told him of having sidd sheep to Mr. Low. Did not tell him directly, but gave him to understand that he had not given the right number. By Mr. W. W. Wilson,— Understood they were the same sheep M. ‘Combe had purchasen from Mr. Glassford. W. A. Low, recalled. — The value of the twenty-one sheep was G3s. This closed the case for the prosecution. The Magistrate said there being no evidence of ownership or of taking, he could not call upon the accused for his defence, 1 but must dLaoiisa the