DEALS IN CARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 276, 21 November 1934, Page 8

DEALS IN CARS.

GROUNDLESS CLAIM.

PROSECUTION FAILS. JUDGE'S INTERVENTION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) BLENHEIM, this day. There was an unusual conclusion to a criminal trial in the Supreme Court this morning when Mr. Justice Blair intervened with a remark that the money involved undoubtedly belonged to the prisoner in the dock, and that, far from the complainant having a claim against him, the boot was on the other foot.

The case was one in which Vaugluin Gothrie Engstrom, of Master ton, was indicted, that on September B', at Blenheim, he received a sum of £3;> on terms requiring him to account to Joseph Reginald Wilson, wiles manager., of Provincial Motors, Wellington.

The evidence showed that Wilson bought a car for £70 for Engstrom's use, and registered it in Engstrom's name. Engstrom entered into a hirepurchase arrangement to buy the car from AVilson. Later, the car was sold at Lower Moutere to a man named Cook for £52, and a tradcd-in car was taken at a valuation of £48, making a total of £100. Later still, Engstrom sold the second car in Blenheim to one Jellyman, for £40, and did not account to Wilson for £35 of that amount. His Honor said it was obvioiis that the car sold to Jellyman was accused's property, as he held the original car under a hire-purchase agreement, and was entitled to any profit on its original sale at Lower Moutere. The case should never have been brought to Court. The jury, without leaving the box. returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty.