WANDERING IN BUSH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 754, 29 August 1929, Page 16

WANDERING IN BUSH

KILLED HEIFER FOR FOOD LABOURER GAOLED (From Our Own Correspondent) NEW PLYMOUTH, Today. After wandering in the bush near Okoke and Urutu for a fortnight, killing a yearling heifer for food and stealing a slasher and pair of boots, Harold Cook was finally rounded up by the police and arrested. Yesterday In the Magistrate’s Court he was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment by Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M. The police said Cook was a labourer, of Okoke. When he could not get work he took to the bush, his acts compelling the police to organise a “man hunt” and to arrest him. He had been placed under medical observation but it had been found that he was fit to stand trial. The heifer, slasher and boots had been the property of A. F. Jones, a farmer in the district. Accused’s counsel said that for two days Cook had had nothing to eat. He had become desperate and had killed the heifer for food. He suggested that the public welfare would be protected if clemency was shown accused. The magistrate said that according to the probation officer Cook was not a fit subject for probation. .He had suggested a short term of hard labour in order that the authorities might ascertain accused’s capabilities. On the first charge Cook was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment and on the other two was convicted and discharged.