SUPREME COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1930, Page 3

SUPREME COURT

ORFYMOUTH, February 27

• The criminal session of the Oreymouth Supreme Court commenced yes'••'rflay before Mi* Justice Adams, and '■r F. A. Kitehingbnin appeared as (Town Prosecutor.

Frederick James Tibbies, ag'od 24. 'lnscribed as a dealer, was charged C) that on February 27 1929, at MaWiden, he stole one bullock, valued at 07 ?s fid. the property of Samuel Stewart: (2) that on February 27, lie received the said bullock, knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained. Ti-o Crown Prosecutor, in outlining the case for the Crown, stated that accused had admitted having branded the brindle bullock, and alleged that 't was bis property. On the other hand, the beast was claimed to have been sold by Coburn to Stewart, along with a red and white bullock and three cows on February 27. 1929. The animals were left in Coburn’s possession until the following few days, but on Stewart’s man going to .“lift” the stock, the two bullocks had disapnoared. The Crown Prosecutor pointed out that if Tibbies wished to establish his claim, he could have taken proceedings in the ordinary way 'u the Magistrate’s Court, but instead of that he had not only branded and earmarked the beast, but he had also somdit to disguise it hv .sawing off its horns.

The jury retired at 5.12 p.m. and returned at 6.17 a.m. with a verdict of not guilty on both counts, but added a rider, that the law regarding bi-inf]irio- be more strictly enforced.

11 is Honour, commenting on tbe ’•’dor. stated that it might he desirable to more strictly enforce tbe law on brnndino-, and be would see to it that tie* rider went forward to the proper authorities. Tibbies was then discharged.