CATTLE STEALING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 302, 13 March 1928, Page 15

CATTLE STEALING

STOCK AGENT CONVICTED SENTENCE POSTPONED (From Our Oxen Correspondent.) HAMILTON, Monday. j After a brief retirement a jury in j the Hamilton Supreme Court to-day i found Walter Joseph Bunting, a stock agent, guilty of stealing at Tirau on November 30, 1927, 30 heifers and a cow valued at £2OB 10s, the property of; persons unknown. Mr. J. F. Strang and Mr. T. A. Lucas appeared for accused. Evidence was given to the effect that accused bought the cattle from Frank Rose at Tirau, and gave a cheque, which was subsequently dishonoured. Accused had told his partner the stock was for a man named McCrae. The stock was sold the following day at Ngaruawahia. McCrae had not been found. The defence called no evidence, but counsel submitted that the evidence could not sutain a charge of theft, but at the most one of false pretences. He argued that the goods could not have been stolen from McCrae, because according to the Crown, McCrae did not exist. After his Honour, in summing up, had said the question for the jury to decide was whether Bunting’s actions indicated that he intended to steal the stock, the jury brought in a verdict as stated. Legal argument was reserved and sentence was postponed.