JOY RIDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 207, 2 September 1936, Page 8

JOY RIDERS.

WILD ESCAPADE.

TWO CONVERTED CARS YOUNG MEN AND TWO GIRLS. « CAN'T GET AWAY WITH THAT." The sequel to wliat counsel termed the "round trip," from Auckland to Wellington and return in converted motor cars, enjoyed by two young men and two girls, took place in the Police Court this morning when Thomas Samson ° Ewen Callender, aged ID, and Jack Story, aged 21, butcher, pleaded guilty to two charges of unlawfully converting motor cars to their own use.

They were each charged with converting a motor car valued at £175, the property of Alva Craig, at Auckland on August 10, and converting another car, valued at £245, belonging to A. and T. Burt, Ltd., at Wellington on August 20. They were further charged that at Wellington on the same date tliey stole motor registration plates valued -at 2,/. Story, alone, was further charged that at Auckland on August 15 he stole £4 18/, the property of Thomas Collins. Accused pleaded guilty to all charges. Detective-Sergeant McHugh prosecuted. Mr. J. F. W. Dickson appeared, for Story and Mr. A. Winter for Callender. Slept in Motor Car. Detective-Sergeant McHugh said i'liss Craig's motor car was taken from Alfred Street on the night of August 16, and a few days later was found abandoned in. Wellington. The car taken from Wellington was found in possession of the accused when they returned to Auckland on August 22. The number plates of this car had been changed. "When they were interviewed here, both Callender and Story were quite frank and admitted taking both cars," said Mr. McHugh. "They picked up two young girls in Auckland and took them to Wellington with them. They slept in the car on the way to Wellington. Both girls were over 1G years of age. On the way back the only food they had was what they stole from boxes at farmers' gateways. They obtained benzine by siphoning it with a rubber tube from other motor cars on the . road." Mr. McHugh added that Story had been managing a shop in Newmarket, and when he left Auckland he took the money that had ibeen left as change for the shop. This he had spent. Callender had one previous conviction for being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor, car. Story had never been in any trouble previously. > Neither pf the motor cars taken had been (Jamaged. "Feminine Element." On behalf of Story, Mr. Dickson said, this accused had been working in a butcher's, shop at the time this wild escapade started. His parents were most respectable people and he had not, been but of their company for years' until lately, when he. started to take liquor,;'. "These t\»o youths suddenly conceited the idea of taking the two girls to Wellington/' added coiirisel. f 'lt was a wild, sudden. burst and was not • premeditated in any way. Bather was it j a sudden .aberration—a . sudden mental treak and quite unaccountable. The two girls were brought back to Auckland. They all tnade the round trip. The feminine element may have entered into the whole escapade. Story lias, an unbliemished character and he has already spent ten days in prison while on remand. '■ He has had a very, severe lesson and I woiiltl ask'your Worship to consider placing, him oh probation." - Mr." Winter said there was little he could add for Callender, except that he was not employed at the time he left Auckland. No doubt the restraint of being on probation would have its effect if this course could be adopted. "Can't Get Away with. That." "If these young men had gone only as far as Otahuhu and then turned back it would riot have been so ba'd, but they went to Wellington in a converted car and then took another and returned to Auckland," said Mr. Hunt. "Young men can't get away with that—not in this city. Oh, no. They will each be sentenced to three months' imprisonment ,on each of the conversion charges." The magistrate made an order that while they are ifi prison for three months, Story and Callender are to be kept apart from the other prisoners.