R.M. COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4381, 29 March 1893, Page 3

R.M. COURT.

MASTERTON. -WEDNESDAY. (Boforo Messrs Woodroofe and Rerall, J.P.'s.) ALLEGED LAItCENY. Pago v, Simmons. Mr Pownall for prosecution and Mr W. G. Beard for defendant, All witui-sses in the esse were ordered out of Court. Mr Pownall said in this oaso the accused whs charged wiih stealing 170 rabbit skins from Pago and his mute Bolt, at Kabanmingi. The value was 80s, Tho skins wore in a marked Sack in Mr Vnllance'a wool shed when removed. Suspicion fell on Simmons, who was employed on Bowlands station, and on Searching the wharo of accused the skins ivero found and a Suck marked with the prosecutor's nnim, Rabbitskin stealing was now a very common ofjence and in ninetynine ctsi'3 out of a hundred it was impossible to sheet home tho offence and n substantial punishment should bo imposed. John Page, ritbbiter at Kahuuiingi, prosecutor in tbo present case, gavo evidence thai he was paid ono halfpenny per skin. 1500 skins belonging to witness and his mate (a man named Bolt) «ere placed iu Mr Vallunce's woolshod, The house was a mile from the woolshed and tho men's wlinri-s were about two chains away. First missed the skins on Monday, the 27th of February, They were not removed by witness' consent or to his knowledge. All his saoks were marked with tho number of skins and his name with blue ruddle, Suspicion being aroused went ovor to Bowlands, where Simmons and James wero working. Went eventually with Mr Moßse to the dip shed.aud was directed by Mr Mcli.o to certain bags of skins which were supposed to belong to Simmons, Recognised some of his own skins by the stretching. Had been rabbiting for thirteen years, and could almost recognise his own skins in tho dark, The sucks produced were witness's, Would swear positively that the sacks and skins produced belonged to him. By Mr Beard: Did not search anything or seo any rabbit skins on the first visit to Bowlands, When witness went with Mr Mcßae to search the dip shed ho was not armed with a searoh warrant. The Backs were brought down to Masterton and lodged with Mr Pownall by Bolt, The saoks were picked out on Tuesday in Mr McKae's presence. Mr Beard at this stage produced four skins which witness would not swear had been stretched by him. Examination continued: I got the sacks from Mr Vallance, I mark them all. lam not partner's with Bolt in the skins. We work together, I do not know Simmons at all woll. Only recovered 720 out of the 1600 |skiDS lost. Two other bans wore mirked" 400. Page." Would not carry tho Bkins from Bowlands to Vallance's for a five pound note. John Mcßae, of Bowlands corroborated tho last v.cneßß' statement as to the finding o' (/ lhe sacks now produced, among Simmons' sacks. Wouid swear positively that the sack produced was not delivered by him to Simmons, Almost every rabbiter could recognise his own stretching, No two men did their work exactly alike, [Left Sitting.] '