THEFT OF SHEEP

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1050, 14 August 1930, Page 16

THEFT OF SHEEP

TWO BROTHERS CHARGED ONE FOUND NOT GUILTY Press Association NAPIER, Wednesday. Two brothers, Reuben Harold Ellison and Edwin Charles Ellison, were jointly indicted in the Supreme Court at Napier today before Mr. Justice Reed on six charges of theft of sheep and turkeys. Edwin Charles Ellison was charged on five counts of receiving sheep, knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. Pleas of guilty to the majority of the charges were entered by Reuben Ellison, the remainder being withdrawn. He was remanded for sentence. Pleas of not guilty were entered by Edwin Charles Ellison, who was represented by Messrs. F. H. Cooper and A. E. La wry. The Crown prosecutor, Mr. H. B. Lusk, conducted the case for the Crown. Evidence for the prosecution was given by neighbours at accused at Makaretu. who had noticed shortages in their flocks, and who found some of their sheep in the Ellisons’ woolshed on June 7. The jury after a retirement of an hour and a-quarter returned a verdict of not guilty on all the charges. The Crown yesterday charged Edwin Charles Ellison with the theft of 21 sheep, valued at £lB 10s, the property of Edward Henry Thompson, and alternatively with receiving the sheep, knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. The Crown evidence went to show, that 19 of the sheep were found in a woolshed on accused’s property, bearing Thompson’s earmark, but the brand of accused’s brother, who was joint administrator with accused of the estate. The skins of two further sheep were found bearing the earmark of Thompson. The defence was that accused knew little about farming, having been engaged with his brother Reuben, who had been on the place all his life, only since October last. Reuben, who had pleaded guilty to the same charge in the Lower Court, did all the managing of the property, and accused said he was not aware that sheep belonging to Thompson were on the property.