ALLEGED SHEEPSTEALING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2712, 18 January 1910, Page 7

ALLEGED SHEEPSTEALING.

FURTHER CHARGE AGAINST WM. JOHN KNIGHT. A .further charge of sheepstealing in respect to tavo sheep, valued at £l, the property of Mr. F. Patullo. Rangitira, avas preferred against Wm. John Knight, at the Magistrate’s Court, yesterday morning, before Mr. W. A. Barton, S.M. Air. J. R. Kirk again appeared for accused. Eugene Francis Sullivan, cleric in the Agricultural Department, produced a record of tlio earmark used by Air. F. Patullo, of Alangakino Station, being a transfer of No. 46, of the Rangitira Land Company. The registered number of the accused, 1953, avas also- proved. Frank Patullo, slieepfarmcr, To Tvaiaka, admitted ownership of the Mangakino and the Rangitira stations, and said accused’s property adjoined the Alangakino station. On the 21st December, 1909, in consequence of come thing ho had heard, he avent up to the toi-toi yards on Mr. Hall’s property, and there saav a number of slice]), amongst avliich avere a save and a lamb belonging to him. The earmarks on both had been tampered avith, the cave’s mark being made to resemble that of accused’s. On the plain ear of tlie lamb accused’s mark had been put, avhile the marks on the other car avore alterecL The alterations avere fresh, about five or six days old, blood being on them. All witness’ sheep avore machine shorn, but the ewe in question had 'een hand shorn, the lamb not being shorn. Wtness sold accused some lambs in January of last year, they being for Tologa Bay. The dividing fence be-taa-eeii the tavo properties avas in good repair. Witness avas short of 154 eaves and 79 lambs on the block in question, on his iast count. Accused had used avitness’ shed for shearing, using the blade. This avas about November last.

Thomas Gedye, head shepherd to the previous avitness, gave evidence similar to that given by him in the former case.

John Eglngton, Pulia, also gave similar evidence. . Chas. Gaukrodger, bead shepherd at Puhatikotiko station, said he took 44 sheep on the 21st December to the Puhatikotiko station. .On the 29th December, at the request ol' the police, he specially marked the sheep, which avere securely paddocked, and avere still in avitness’ possesion, at the Puhatikotiko station, in a small paddock. The evidence ol John Cooper in the previous case avas read and admitted in vliis case.

Constable Doyle, To deposed that lie proceeded to the Toi-toi yards in .question, on December 21st last, Avlicn out of the 44 sheep then sliGavn him a. cave and a lamb aa-ere claimed by Air. Patullo. Witness explained the "marks on the ears of the sheep, stating that neav marks had been made, portions of the old ones shoaadng. Witness authorised the removal of the sheep to Puhatikotiko station, and subsequently assisted to put private marks upon them. Witness -asked accused, on December 21st, if the sheep avere liis, and the reply avas: “No,” but accused admitted having claimed them, stating that he afterwards found they aa-ere not his. Witness entered a signed statement entered in the previous case, and produced the accused’s diary. In the signed statement accused stated that he had docked sheep on Dec. ember 13, but no reference of this had been made in the diary, although a record of other cases had been made. This concluded the case for the police, and accused elected to say nothing, pleading not guilty. He avas committed for trial, bail being alloaved in a personal security of £SO. and two other 1 sureties of £25.