FINES OF £34

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1929, Page 3

FINES OF £34

FOR THEFT OF TWO LAMBS v By Telegraph—Prese Association). INVER,CARGIJX, July IS. In the Magistrate’s Court to-day, William Warnock, John Warnock and Christopher Owen Cooper., pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing two lambs, valued at 30s each, the property of John Gunn senr. farmer. Detective Ser’gt. Hewitt said that Gunn junr. counted the lambs on June 7th. and found the number correct. Two days later two lambs were, missing. A search disclosed that the two lambs had been killed and skinned in the bush. The DetectiveSergeant visited Warnock’s . house at Winton. The Warnoekw denied tiie offence, but it was unfortunate for them that some chops were being fried at the time, for which they could not account. Finally Owen Cooper admitted' the offence, and dug up a portion of one of the lambs from his garden. In Warnock’s garden another portion was’ found buried in sacks. The men had all made statements, and one had said that while they were playing cards someone suggested that they get the sheep. This was significant, as rarmers in Winton complained that sheep were being taken. Winton was a small place, and it was not likely that there were any more sheep stealing there. The men had stated that they had been drinking.

Cooper was fined £lO and the Warnocks £ls each, but on being informed that the latter had spent a week in custody, the Magistrate reduced the fines to £l2 each.