LONG ARM OF THE LAW.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4715, 23 June 1924, Page 3

LONG ARM OF THE LAW.

PENALTY FOR STEALING A DOG. A MONTH’S HARD LABOUR. Some two months ago Mr A. R. Gorrie lost his dog, a Great Dane, and a valuable animal. The matter was reported to the police, but it was a couple of weeks before they located the animal at Cambridge, it having changed hands two. or three times. The offender got away from the district, but not fro.m the police, who tracked him' to Palmerston North, where he was brought before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M. The accused was Duncan Angus McLean, and was charged with stealing a dog valued at £25 on April 27 at Paeroa, the property of Allan Rutherford Gorrie. Detective-Sergeant Quirke represented the police, while Mr Cooper appeared for the accused, who pleaded guilty and elected to be dealt with summarily. Counsel stated that, when at Paeroa. his client had been followed by a dog, which he was unable to shake off. The animal had no collar and no registration mark; neither had it been. advertised for. McLean, consequently, took possession of it. Later, being out of work, he had sold the dog. for which he obtained £5. Detective-Sergeant Quirke stated that accused had had two previous convictions entered against him and had served a term of reformative treatment. The Magistrate sentenced accused to a month’s imprisonment with hard labour.