THEFTS CHARGED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 181, 2 August 1944, Page 6

THEFTS CHARGED

TYRES AND WHEELS ALLEGED CAR STRIPPING The case in which Thomas Boyle Dennis, motor mechanic, aged 41 (Mr. Robinson), and Clifford Dennis Connelly, draughtsman, aged 32 (Mr. Haigh) stood trial before Mr. Justice Callan and a jury on a series of charges of theft of motor car wheels, tvres, tubes and tools valued at £201 10/, was continued to-day. Mr. S. Cleal prosecuted for the Crown. The Crown's allegation was that the wheels, tyres and accessories included in the charge came from six motor cars which had been unlawfully converted in the city, takes to the suburbs and stripped. Evidence was given by a taxi driver that Connelly had approached him about second-hand tyres, and witness had bought from him eight tyres which had been claimed by the owners to have come off two of the converted cars. . Detective H. A. Wilson said that when he went to Dennis' garage in Newton Road he saw four motor car wheels which Connelly claimed he had found on a rubbish tip. These were claimed by the owner of one of the stolen cars. From a bench which Connelly said was his witness recovered a number of car tools claimed by the owners of two of the stolen cars. Dennis denied all connection with the tools and bench. A wheel brace identified as from another stolen car was found in the garage. Dennis said he did not know where the brace had come from. Detective James B. Robertson testified to observing Connelly about 8.50 p.m. on May 19 inspect the tyres of a car in Lome Street and move further along the street, where he tried the doors of another parked car. Later witness examined the latter car to find scratches on the handles tried, while the driver's riErht-hand handle had been broken off. That night a car was stolen from near the Y.W.C.A., in Upper Queen Street. On June 14 he searched house premises in Douglas Street, Ponsonby, and found 19 motor car wheels, eight hub caps and four tyres and tubes. (Proceeding)