R.M. COURT, HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2346, 23 July 1887, Page 2

R.M. COURT, HAMILTON.

Thursday.—(Before Mr H. W. Northcroft, R.M.) ALLEGED LARCENY OP PIGS. Regina on the prosecution of Matehaere ICanere v. W. McLeish, jun., and Regina in the prosecution of Flaehae Makarini v. W. McLeish. The defendant was charged with larceny of five pigs. Sergeant McGrath prosecuted, and Mr W. INI. Hay appeared for the defence. The cases were, by consent, taken together. The evidence of the two informants, was taken at considerable length, and went to show that the pigs had been turned out in April last by the natives, one of them ear-marked, but the others not ear-marked. They identified the pigs by their appearance They were young pigs and they had not seen them since April. Hapetawaka was also examined and identified the pigs by general appearance. He said Mr Crawford had been the lawyer for the natives, and had advised them to go to the police. Mrs Douglas and Mrs Sunderland wore also examined. They each described the pigs that McLeish had in his sty before being taken to see them. The description did not correspond with the pigs identified by the natives.

Graham Johnson was the last witness called, and he. proved that he had put the pigs in question in McLeish’s sty when McLoish was at the Auckland Easter encampment. That four of them were McLaish’s pigs, and the fifth, the marked pig, was his own, ho having out off the ears himself. The cross-examination of the witnessewent to show that McLeish had acted without concealment throughout, and that there was not the best of feeling existing between Mrs Douglas and Mrs Sunderland and the McLeishes.

Mr Hay asked whether, after hearing th* evidence, the court desired to hear him in defence. The R.M. said it was unnecessary, as the case signally broke flown. There was n«»t the slightest doubt in his mind that McLcish was perfectly innocent, and hf must be discharged. Costs were "given against the prosecutors to the amount of £ll 2s 3d.