TRACKED A THIEF

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20728, 11 February 1939, Page 23 (Supplement)

TRACKED A THIEF

OVER 2000 MILES NATIVE CONSTABLE’S FEAT (South African News Letter) JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 28 The remarkable endurance and perseverance of a native policeman in tracking a cattle thief for 2000 miles over a period of two and a half months has earned for him the speei&l commendation of the Commissioner of Police and a cash reward of £2 from I the Minister of Justice. The policeman is native detective- i sergeant W. Nell, stationed in the Transkei division, who has been commended for “extraordinary initiative, zeal and ability” in the successful investigation of a stock theft oase involving nine head of cattle. During his investigations he travelled through various parts of the Free State and Basutoland, covering 1800 miles on horseback and 200 miles on foot. He suffered great hardships through adverse weather conditions, and was severely handicapped by steep and rugged mountains, heavy snow and flooded rivers. Two and a half months after taking over the case, however, he succeeded in tracing eight of the stolen cattle and in arresting the accused. The thief was convicted and sentenced to a year’s imprisonment, and vas ordered to pay £5 compensation for the animal not recovered.