STOLE FOUR COWS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 473, 1 October 1928, Page 12

STOLE FOUR COWS

PROBATION FOR PRISONER MEAGRE EDUCATION BLAMED For stealing four cows, Cnariem West, a middle-aged man, of Te Puke, was admitted to probation for two years by Mr. Justice Smith, in the Supremo Court this morning. Prisoner was ordered to pay £ls costs and to restore the cattle. For prisoner, Mr. J. C. Dromgocl said that West’s crime was an isolated one. He had not come before a cou;t before Counsel suggested that prisoner’s lack of education might have prompted the theft. Ho was born in the country and had joineef up and went to the Front. On returning, in 1919. he took up farming and fishing, but could not make a success of it. Turned on the world, he stole the catle in the backwoods. Counsel asked for probation. His Honour: Has this man any fi\t d abode ? Counsel: Xo. your Honour. His Honour: Then it would be a difficult thing to give such a man probation.' Addressing prisoner, his Honour 5.;..d the offence was a very serious one. He had. however, failed in his criminal intent in that he had received nothing for the cattle. The fact that he had already waited in prison for three months, pending proceedings, would be considered.