SHEEP STEALING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3788, 17 April 1891, Page 2

SHEEP STEALING.

JUNGER COMMUTED FOR TRIAL.

In the R.M. Court yeslerday, before Colonel Roberts, R.M., Johan Jacob Junger was charged with stealing a sheep from J. C. Nicholls, sheepfarmer, of the Wellington Special Settlement, near Eketahuna. Mr Pownall appeared for tbe defence.

James Clement Nicholls, sworn, deposed : I am a sheepfarmer residing in Wellington Special Settlement No. 1 Block, near Eketahuna. I know accused. He has land near mine, but it does not adjoin mine I have for some time past missed sheep. My sheep are tranded with my registered brand, " C.N." The brand produced is my brand, and the brand on the skin is mine. The skin belongs to me. 1 valued the sheep at twelve shillings. It was a ewe. I never gave accused, or anybody else excepting the manager, authority to kill my sheep. The accused has no sheep of his own. Between ray land and accused's it is from a half to three quarters of a property is fenced. There is a bush fence between my property and accused's. Sheep can get through now it is broken down.

By Mr Pownall: I have been over a good bit of accused's property and have seen no sheep. 1 am satisfied from enquirios made that accused has no sheep of his own. I have been through the greater part of his property, but not through all. lam satisfied he has no sheep. Burbage's section, with some standing, bush is between our properties. By the Bench : Cattle have made a track through the bush section.

Alexander Ure deposed : I am manager for Mr Nicholls. I know accused. He resides near Mr Nicholls, about half, or tbree quarters of a mile off. I remembar v , r tbe4 > O«Jf of this mouth; visiting" the accused's place in company wi'.h Constable Roche and Mr Herbert. I visited it before that on the Tuesday. I went there to see if he had any sheep killed, as I had had suspicions for some time. I found no sheep then, but found preparations for one. I saw a kerosene tin with a little brine in it. I went after that on the Friday morning before going with Constable Roche on the tenth of April. I found a sheep bailed up by a log, as if it had been bailed up by a dog, I came down and took notice of my dogs, which were with mo, as they were sniffing about. I lifted the sheep out of the stump and let it go. It went up the hill a bit. I came then towards his whare I found the sheep about 400 yard 3 from accused's house, and on his property. I saw the dogs sniffing and followed them, and they took me to where a sheep had been killed. I saw the skin produced lying under the logs. It looked as if it had been pushed there out of sight. I pulled it out and saw the brand and then put it back again. I knew the brand was that of Mr Nicholls. I know his brand. The brand produced is his registered brand. Owing to what I saw I went to Constable Roche direct. An information was laid and a search warrant procured. This was on tho tenth April. I accompauied Constable Roche back to accused's house. Mr Herbert was with us. When we got to accused's bouse he wa%not at home. I assisted Constable Roche to search. We found a kerosene tin full of fresh mutton, and a kidney in the camp oven and a piece of cooked mutton. We went then to where the skin was. It was about two hundred and fifty yardsjoff. We found the dkmi. The skin was wet and green as though it had come off the sheep a day or two previously. We did not find the head and ears of the sheep. Const lble Roche took charge of the skin and tin of mutton. We lit a candle and searched the whare. Accused was not at home, we went outside and had a general look round and fouudtwo sheepskulls. We waited until accused returned. When he came in he was accosted by Constable Roche, who read the warrant to him. I heard ii read. The Constable asked if he had any mutton in the house. At first he said no, and then said he had some. Accused and the constable went into the whare and shifted his clothes and then left for Eketabuna. I went with them and was at the lock-up when the accused was put in. The accused when in the cell told me I should, have given him a chance, and that it was the first he had killed. I told him that he had chances enough. He said it was the only one he had killed. The witness was examined at length by Mr Pownall. Harry Herbert gave corroborative evidence.

Constable Roche deposed 'to visiting the property of the aooused and finding the skin, etc., and to the arrest.

The accused, who reserved hia defence, was then committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court.