Three Years for Sheep Stealing

Levin Daily Chronicle, 27 February 1917, Page 3

Three Years for Sheep Stealing

Charles Lewis Kreegher and Rudolph Edward Kreegher, of Kakariki, jvlio were found guilty, last Thurtsday of stealing 86 sheep from the !Wlas|oe Estate, were sentenced at Palmerston (by Mr. Justice Edwards) to three years' imprisonment with hard labor. His Honor said that the prisoners were both young men, and ought to know the sheep that belonged fo them and those which did not. Trey 'also should know the enormity of the crime of stealing other people's sheep. The probation officer's report on the prisoners was not satisfactory, and if they had not been charged before they had at least been under suspicion. He did not propose passing a heaviy sentence. He "would make it as light as possible, in conformity with the recommendation of the jury. His action in this respect might be the subject of some criticism, hut he always followed the practice of paying attention to the recommendations of juries. This was "an encouragement to juries to do their duty, where otherwise they would be reluctant to make recommendations if they did not receiive the favourable consideration of the Judge.