SHEEP STEALING

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1948, 3 December 1906, Page 3

SHEEP STEALING

Iu connection with the conviction of James Wills at Wellington Supreme Court for sheep stealing in Hawke’s Bay, the evidence given showed that James SnuddoD, a neighbor of aooused, went to accused’s farm and thoro discovered aheap butchered and hung about, the ears that bore the earmarks being out off. Snaddon also inspected the ten sheep that ho saw in a small paddock on accused’s farm, and on some of these he saw indications that made him believe they hal been hia property. Subsequently he went with a police party lo accused’s farm, and from a deep hole thoy dug up sheepskins, wool, and the caroases of three dead sheep. While tho party was digging acoussd went up to his house, ana Sargeaut Oruickshanks followed him. They had some las, and there was conversation. Accused said to Giuiekakauks, " Look here, sergeant, will you do a poor devil a good turn. I’ve often done poor devils a good turn when I was in the force ; will you do me a good turn ? You won’t lose anything by doing it.” Witness tasked him,what it was, saying he would do him a good turn if it was in his power. Accused then, told witness there were skins buried in the hole, and asked witness to go down and stop them digging. Witness said ho could not do that. Accused replied, “ Oh, yes you can. They will come to a lot of timber presently, and if you go down then and say to them, ‘ It’s no use jig,ring any further, knock off, boys.’ witness replied that he could not do that j Ihe had been in the police force for twentyeig'ht years, and during all that time tie had done nothing shady for or against any man. After tho skins had been dug up,

accused gave witness two explanations: one that "he buried them because there were no cars on them, tho other that he buried them because the wool was valueless.

A strong point for the prosecution was tho finding of a sheep’s car, bearing accused's earmark, upon which (at the base) were marks which informant Suaddon swore to as being the base of two M's (two M’s being Snaddon’s earmark). There were quite a number of sheep in accused’s flock with parts of their ears cut off and with accused’s earmark appearing on the portions of the ear that were left. The explanation given of this was that the sheep were frequently found with tom ears caused by the manuka scrub catching in the three p ’ nature holes that formed accused’s earmark, and that he then cut off the hanging piece and re-marked the ear butt. The explanation given of tho finding of wool and skins in the hole was that these were

porishod and of no soiling valuo ; but wit' noteiß for tho Grown swore thut those woro quite matkotablo. As to tho flood shoep, aoousod said that several of biß ahoop foil into tho hole, and thut three of them woro tsulLoatod. Sergeant Oaiiokshuttku then aekod him how it oauio that their throats were out. Acousod replied that thu sheep woro not quito dead, to ho out their throats. As tho case progressed it was showed shat there had boon disagreement;! between informant and ac- I otisod, though informant protested that bo was still friendly disposed towards I

accused. Wan;!soa called for tho defence ioaufiod that it was by no means uncommon for sheep to have their earn torn by manuka scrub. Tho witnesses also joined issue against the testimony of SntidJon that he found on tho ears of a sheep bearing acctiaod’s oarmivk the base of two M h that formed Boaddon'a earmark. Goo

ttbriojs contended that the marks which Sninldcn assorted to bo tho bason of M a were really tho bason of punch holos (accused's cut mark).