SHEEP-WORRYING CASE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2457, 22 July 1922, Page 3

SHEEP-WORRYING CASE

DAMAGES AWARDED. At the local S.M. Court yesterday, before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., S. J. Easton (Mr Bergin) claimed from’R. Walter the sum of £ll ss, value of sheep destroyed by defendant’s dogs. Evidence was given by plaintiff as to the number of sheep destroyed and subsequently following the two dogs with blood marks on them to defendant’s house. He asked plaintiff who the dogs belonged to ami defendant claimed ownership, ' but denied that bis dogs would worry sheep and that they had blood marks on them. He refused to get some water and to prove his statement. Witness took deok defendant out to see the dead and wounded sheep. The dogs had no collars. He valued the sheep (Romneys) at 22/6 each, which was under (lie market value, 28/-. 28/-.

Tbosi Chaffey gave corroborative evidence as to the dogs worrying the sheep and the loss sustained. He identified the dogs ns defendant’s. .

Constable O’Donnoghne gave evidence as to. seeing plaintiff following the two dogs to the owner’s premises. He did not examine the dogs to- see Whether there was any blood marks on them.

Defendant stated that plaintiff came to him and accused him of of hist dogs worrying his sheep. The dogs did not sfiow any evidence of having been worrying the sheep. If lie thought his dogs worried sheep he would shoot them at once.

. The Magistrate said the evidence was’ clear by the following of the dogs as to who was the owner. Judgment would be for plaintiff for amount claimed and costs £2 12s.