TAIHAPE ESCAPADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 64, 17 March 1930, Page 8

TAIHAPE ESCAPADE.

TWO MEN IN A TRUCK.

theft of motor accessories.

Two young nien pleaded guilty in the Police' Court to-day to a charge of stealing, at Wainui,'. near Taihape, a tyre, tube rim and benzine, the property of Frank Smith, and also to a charge of stealing a tyre and, rim belonging, to a man named Ward. They were Alder Francis Walding (24), labourer, and Frederick George Lester (24), a. seaman. Chief-Detective Hammond said the accused arrived in Taihape in a motor truck and committed the offences, the more serious of, the two charges being the ' breaking' and entering of a motor garage. __ For Walding, Mr. Jacob said that the two men had been engaged hawking-fish around the King Country, but it was not a very, lucrative occupation. They had purchased an old truck, which; had given much trouble, and they were touring the agricultural shows, where they were running a chocolate stall. They were on their way to Te Kuiti Show at the time. Their truck broke down, and- in order to get quickly to thendestination they had given way to temptation. v : ' Mr. A. Smyth, for Lester, said the goods were not taken with the object of selling them; it was really "a case of. emergency." Lester, had been convicted for breaking and entering, but tliat was when he was young and haci bad associates. He had a steady job\ awaiting him, and it would be better for him to go to work than be sent to gaol. Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., said that in view of the fact that both accused had previous convictions, as mentioned by the chief detective, he found it difficult to impose only a fine. They were fortunate that they were not charged with the more serious crime of breaking and entering. He preferred to remand the men until to-morrow and consult with the probation : officer before making a decision.