SENT TO GAOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 4, 6 January 1938, Page 10

SENT TO GAOL.

CONVERSION OF CAR.

TRIP NORTH WITH MAORIS.

PORTUGUESE HT COURT.

A variety of charges appeared against the name of John Henry Silva, farm hand, aged 24, who came before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court to-day. Silva, for whom Mr. Aekins appeared, pleaded guilty to charges of unlawfully converting to his own use on December 28 a motor car valued at -£203, the property of Drive Yonreelf, Ltd.; theft of a motor dpvefa . license valued at 2/6; driving without a" license; and. on the same datejgyit Donnelly's Crossing, with killing a jhen pheasant without lawful authority.?'

Detective-Sergeant McHugh said that after stealing hie half-brother's driver's license Silva hired a rental car by producing the license and drove four Maoris • The Maoris paid him £4 for He should have r-:tunied the <»f to Auckland on Christmas Day, but (> so. At Dargaville he was stopped in the car by the police. The car had been damaged to the extent of £15.

"Silva really misled the Maoris, wh'o were unaware that he should have returned the car," said Mr. McHugh. "The police found a hen pheasant in the car. This Silva admitted he had killed with a stone when he saw it on the road. The Maori.* have since paid for the extra hire of the car. 'Silva has a list of previous convictions."

It was stated by Mr. Aekins that Silva was engaged by the Maoris to drive them to Kaitaia. He had previously held a license to drive a car, hut had not renewed it. Silva had been trying -t<?, rehabilitate himself and had been working as a slaughterman, earning good money. Counsel asked that he be given anbther chance.

"What are you, a half-caste Maorit w asked the magistrate.

, Silva: No. I'm half Portuguese: . ,Mr.* Hunt : Well, I wish you were altogether Portuguese and back in Portugal.

Silva was sentenced to one month's imprisonment for unlawful conversion, and convicted and discharged on the other charges.