SHEEP STEALERS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1930, Page 3

SHEEP STEALERS

WATCHED BY NEIGHBOURS FROM CAVE.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

HAMILTON, Nov. 18

Frances Joseph Walmsley, 23, and Herbert Christian Olsen, aged 35, who were charged on six counip of sheep stealing at Teniata, in the hills between Raglan and Kawhia, appeared at the Supreme Court, Hamilton, toglay. i , The Crown alleged that in this ease there was a system bordering on banditry, where the two accused were said to lntoe gone out bv night, amongst the flocks of their tie hi hhours, and to have carried and driven sheep away. Suspicion having fallen on the two men, they were watched by a party of neighbours, night after night, who sometimes hid in a crevice along the sea coast, known as the “Lightning Cave,” where, they stated, (they observed the whole procedure. Later on fleeces were discovered. Tlte heads of sheep, removed from the bodies, with ears missing, were found; also sheep skins minus ears, and sheep with altered earmark* • also blood and ear elinpings in bush and the entrails of animals hidden in a swamp. *

It was also alleged that one of t,h p men had declared, after his arrest that lie would give hundreds of pound;-’ to keep the matter out of the court.

Wnlmsley was charged with stealing fifty sheep. Olsen was charged ivjth stealing one sheen, while both ot the. neeusod. in company, with stealing four sheep.

After considerable evidence , '"' 1 been heard, both of the «opvsed alforpd their -plea of not omiHv to n "'’ of omiltv, on all hut one of the riiarues. Sentence was deferred.