Stolen Cattle.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 42, 30 May 1913, Page 2

Stolen Cattle.

END OF THE BOURKS CASE. The man Edward Bourke (Dr. Bimford), who appeared at the December sittings of the Supreme Court on charges of cattle-steal-ing at Matahuru, and who was remanded to enable certain points to be decided by the Court of Appeal-, was brought up for sentence before Mr Justice Edwards on Tuesday morning. Bourke, in December, was indicted upon three counts : (1) For theft of four cows and three heifers; (2) for theft of three cows; and (3) that he did receive and have five cows before then stolen, knowing that the same had been dishonestly obtained. The verdict returned by the inrv was : *’ We find the prisoner

jure was ; m; miu tuo piismier guilty of receiving stolen cuttle, and being a party to the sale of the same, but respectfully ask your Honor for leniency, as there is not sufficient e.’i.lonce to show that the prisoner actually stole tho cattle.” The accused was then remanded for sentence, and, upon the day ho was brought up, Dr. Bamford asked His Honor to reserve a case for the Court of Appeal, on thu ground that the verdict was a special verdict, and that the finding was insufficient as a finding of guilty on the second count. The Court of Appeal found that the verdict was one of guilty on the third count. His Honor decided yesterday to tine the accused £do, and ordered that in default Bourke should undergo D? months’ impris lament, but added that the term might be -aspen led provided he paid £lO forthwith, and £4 per month until the whole amount was paid.