FARMER ADMITS SHEEP-STEALING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 583, 8 February 1929, Page 1

FARMER ADMITS SHEEP-STEALING

DEFENCE ABANDONED

JUDGE COMMENDS* POLICE “Since the adjournment yesterday I have had a long consultation with prisoner, and I have his authority to plead guilty on his behalf.” This announcement was made to Mr. Justice Blair and a jury this morning by Mr. G. P. Finlay, counsel for Frank James Smith, farmer, ol Tuakau, whose trial began in the Supreme Court yesterday on two charges of sheep-stealing on various dates last year at the Lower Waikato. The allegations were that Smith stole 233 sheep from the Bothwell Station, Glenmurray, and two from Robert Alexander Rutherford, of Kaawa. Accused was alternatlvetly charged with receiving stolen sheep. Smith decided to plead guilty to the count relating to the Bothwell estate, but denied the other charges. “I am satisfied to accept the plea of guilty on the major count,” said the Crown Prosecutor, Mr. V. R. Meredith. “1 will withdraw the others.” Addressing Mr. Finlay, his Honour said: “I think it very wise. The case was abundantly clear and It might have been unfortunate for prisoner if he had gone into the witness box and repeated the statements he had made to the police, because his story was quite incredible.” “I am indebted to your Honour for those remarks,” said Mr. Finlay. “I felt I had a duty in the matter, and I was very reluctant to abandon the case.” “I do appreciate your difficulty, but it did seem to me that the accused’s statement was quite incredible,” replied the judge. Then, asking Detective T. Snedden, of Auckland, and Constable G. Robertson of Huntly, to come forward, his Honour said: “I am not without experience of the difficulty confronting the police in handling a case of sheepstealing. It is a matter of great difficulty to present a case so that it may be understandable to men unversed in the technicalities of sheep farming and ear-marking. “The present case bears evidennee of the most meticulous care in preparation and reached the court in a form easily understandable by laymen. It reflects great credit on you both.” Prisoner was remanded until Wednesday, when he will be sentenced.