MAGISTERIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2316, 19 August 1880, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

WAIMATE—THIS DAY. (Before R. Bectham, Esq., R.M.) LARCENY oe mutton. John Findlay was charged on the information of tiie police with the larceny of two sheep carcases, valued at 245, the property of F. M. Rickman. Mr Clements defended the accused. The short facts of the case were that the prosecutor, a Waimatc butcher, instructed his man Fox to kill certain sheep on the evening of August 13. The slaughter yards are situated in the bush some little distance from the township, and here the sheep were killed on the night in question by Fox. Twelve were killed and hung up m the shed, but on the following morning two were found to be missing, and Fox at once gave information to the police. A bottle containing about a pint of beer was found lying close to the shed, and a number of strange footprints were also discovered. Sergeant Ramsay, on ascertaining that the accused _ had purchased the beer at a hotel in Waimatc. on the night in question, afterwards obtained Ids hoots’ and found they tallied in size and shape with the footmarks. One of the carcases was afterwards discovered about 400 yards distant from the slaughter-house, it having been evidently dropped by the accused in making olf. Nothing was known against the accused, and it is supposed that he was induced to steal the meat because he was in necessitous circumstances and had a wife and family to support. Ho was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor. civil case. Thompson v Hayes. Mr Clements for defendant. This case arose out of the Waimatc arson case. Thompson, one of the defendants in that case, now sued Hayes for £2 a week for looking after Clarke’s saddlery and drapery shop in Waimate. The Magistrate characterised the case as one of the most impudent that had ever come under his notice. Judgment for defendant. The Court then adjourned.