FIVE MONTHS, GAOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 143, 20 June 1927, Page 10

FIVE MONTHS , GAOL.

F9B TAKWG MOTOR CARS.

CHASED IK GRAFTON ROAD.

RAYMOND LETTON SENTENCED.

'" I cannot ignore the fact that this class of offence is increasing every day in Auckland. When cars are taken they are usually driven recklessly and damaged, as well as causing great inconvenience to owners. There is quite enough danger on our roads at present with ordinary drivers." So said Mr. W. R. McKean. the Police Court magistrate, in sending Raymond Patrick Letton (35) to gaol this morning for converting two motor cars to his own use. Letton. who was represented by Mr. R. A. Singer, admitted that he converted to his own use the £650 motor car of Mr. H. R. Burrett. on May 31, and also the car valued at £250. belonging to Mr. S. J". Paul, on June 14. Chase and Capture. ©n May 31, said Chiei Detective CumBiings. Mr. BuiTett's car was removed from its parking-place in Fort Street. The following day Constable Wilkes, of Parnell, observed" it and, on further investigation. found accused sitting in the ear. The car had been damaged, a spotlight and a pair of motoring gloves being missing, although these could not be Traced to Letton. On the night of June ] 4. Mr. Paul left his car outside a house in Grafton Road, after locking the gears. On coming outside about 10 o'clock he saw his car gliding down hill and, with two friends, gave chase. After chasing ]>etton, who appeared to be the only occupant of the car, into the Domain, he was caught after a struggle, in which he struck one of'his pursuers. Letton told his captors that had he not been drinking he would not have taken the car. *" But lie was quite sober," said Mr. Cummings, " and a bad feature of the case was that he obliterated one of the numbers, no doubt to avoid detection." Mr. Cummings added that such cases were.diffi«ult to detect, and asked the magistrate to make an example of Letton. Could Not Drive a Car. Mr. Singer said that another man took Mr. Paul's car. However, the other man could not be found, so he had advised accused to plead guilty. "To support his story that he did not take the second car, Letton says he is unable to drive a car. However" that, perhaps, is a twoedged saw, but I place it before the Court." said Mr. Singer. Someone else took Mr. Burrett'* car from Fort Street, and Letton did not get into it until the following day. Mr. McKean remarked that Letton had first given a false name. Chief Detective Cummings: In addition to that he took the car belonging to Mr. Paul while be was on bail awaiting trial on the other charge. Letton has no license, but I am told that be does drive, and has been seen driving a ear. <?uch a man is a source of danger to be at large in a motor car. The magistrate sentenced Letton to two months' imprisonment on the first charge and to three months on the •econd. the terms to be cumulative.