THE CATTLE-STEALING CHARGES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3043, 13 November 1908, Page 5

THE CATTLE-STEALING CHARGES.

CONCLUSION OF THE EVIDENCE.

The hearing of the charges of cattle-stealing against Frank Carr, Clifford Jackson, and Gilbert Langdon, and of receiving against Carr, v;ere continued before Mr W. P. James, S.M., at Masterton yesterday. Mr jfownall moved for the Court to dismiss the information against Carr, on the ground that there was no evidence s lowing guilty intent on the part of Carr. Counsel quoted section 284 of the Crimes Act, in which the peuslty was fixed at seven years' hard labour if guilty knowledge was proved. It was contended that no evidence whatever showed that Carr, although he received and sold the cattle, knew them to have been dishonestly obtained. If the Court thought that a prima facie case had been made out, counsel would call Carr to give evidence. Inspector Ellison contended a strong prima facie case had been made out, as it was shown that Carr had made different statements to buyers of.the cattle as to where they came from, and also made arrangements for the sale of the cattle before they were stolen.

The Magistrate said he would have in any case to commit Carr for trial. He considered there was a strong prima facie case against Carr, and it would not be for his Worship to discriminate between conflicting evidence.

The usual charge was then put to Jackson and Carr, both Dleading not guilty and reserving their defence, and being committed for trial to the Supreme Court, which will open in Wellington on the 19th inst. Mr Hollings entered a plea of guilty on behalf of Langdon, and asked permission to call evidence as to accused's character, which was granted. John Cross, J.P., said he knew Mr Langdon and his son (accused), the latter having worked for witness, and having proved entirely trustworthy. The lad's behaviour was always such as to cause it to come as a great surprise to witness to find him in his present position. He was competent and careful in his work. Witness never knew of accused's having before the Court before. William Langdon, father of accused in the employ of Mr Guy Williams, of Te Parae, said his son was between eighteen and nineteen years of age. The lad was of a weaknatured mind, and easily led. Witness attributed the cause to an early trouble. Through accused's life witness and his wife were troubled through accused's pranks in the direction of "Dick Turpin" tricks, and the lad's running away when only six gr sevjsn year§ old. On one occasion, when about nine years old, il6 ran away from a preparatory school at | Hobart, and set out to walk home, a distance of 130 miles, through an almost inpenetrable country for a boy. Witness attributed his son's lapse was solely due to lack of moral balance, due to the trouble referred to. At home accused was a good lad, and only when near bad influences would be likely to go astray. Witness would, if the Court dealt leniently with hid son, endeavour to take him in hand, and witness would also do his best to make restoration of the stolen cattle. Accused had once been before the Court for breaking a window. Margaret Langdon, mother of accused, corroborated her husband's evidence. Witness was prepared to assist as far as possible out of her private income to make restoration for the stolen cattle.

Dr Ross gave medical evidence in support of what accused Langdon's parents had said in regard to accused's probable lack of mental balance.

William G. Page, in the employ of the Wellington Meat Export Company, at its Waingawa works, said accused had worked for three days for him. He found him honest in his dealings. Colin A. Philips, stock agent, gave accused a good character though he considered accused an impulsive and easily led person. Mr Hollings wished to attach some written testimonials to thedepositions, but the Magistrate, said those could be handed to the judge direct. Accused Langdon was then committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

Bail in the amounts of £.IOO for one surety for each accused, and accused's own recognisances of £SO, was granted to Carr and Jackson, Mrs Carr again standing surety for both. Bail for Langdon, who is in custody on another charge, was not granted.