CAUGHT IN THE ACT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1675, 20 December 1887, Page 2

CAUGHT IN THE ACT.

Some of tho wool sheds in the Geraldine district have been suffering from the depredations of some light fingered gentry.. Messrs W. PostlethwaLe’s and the late W. K. Macdonald’s being the principal sufferers. On Wednesday and Thursday mornings, Mr Shalhrd, the wool-elaiser at the latter's station, found that about forty fleeces had been taken on each of the previous nights. On Friday morning, Mr Postlethwaito found wool had been t*koa from his shed 00 Thursday night. Tha same Friday night a young man named Edwin Wiloooks was caught by Mr Murray (manager of the late Mr Macdonald’s station), who was watching in the shed, with two horses loaded with eight sacks full of wool. On Saturday no traces of; the plant of the other wool taken oould befound although all the plantations were searched between the itation and Wiloooks" place, first by the police and Mr Badhim, and afterwards by t*he itation hands, but without result. On Sunday afternoon. Constable Graham went from Temuka along tho road that loads from Willoooks’ section as far ss the Orari river-bed, and turned ap tho river with the intention of searching the river-bed from there to the station. He had not gone a quarter of a mile, however, when ha found the plant. It was on a email island, or bank, in a clump of gone about eight feet high, Inside the clamp there wasa little grass plot about 9ft z 10ft, In thus apace were packed 28 bags of wool, a horse cover, four wool-packs, and a wooden pipe. Constable Graham immediately went and acquainted Constable Willoughby of hie find. The two then itarted off about 4 p.m., and arrived back and honied the plunder about 11 p.m. Groat oredit il due to Mr Murray, who bad watched the shed for two nights, tha second one successfully, also to Mr fiadham, who gave every assistance to the police in starching, etc. Finding alio that the polioa had. such a heavy load for their trap he lent them a leading horse to assist in taking the load to and went to Geraldine to save them tbu necessity of bringing the horse back again. On ex» amining the “swag ” at tha police itation it waa found that eight of the saoks belonged to Mr Fostlethwaite, and contained 212f1b» net. Twenty of the lacks bslonged to the trustees of the late Mr W. £. Macdonald, and contained SSOlba. The value of the wool taken from Mr Maodonald’a is £34 Is 2d, and from Mr Fostlethwaite’* between £7 and £3. Wiloocks waa arrested about a quarter past two on Saturday morning. By committing this theft he breaks his probation license, which was issued to him in August last, and he will therefore be brought up for sentence on the former offence. In conversation with a shepherd from Mr who was placed as sentry over him* Wiloooks stated that his reason for the theft wasthat he had been fined £7 in Temuka, and must either sell a horse or steal to, raise thewind, so he made up his mind, to- steal. The prisoner was brought up before B. H. Pearpoint, Esq., J.P., at Geraldine,, yesterday, and, remanded till 9.30 on Monday morning