NAVAL OFFICER?

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18725, 23 June 1926, Page 8

NAVAL OFFICER?

ALLEGED CAR THIEF COMMITTED. SUPPRESSION OF NAME REFUSED. Norman Frank Welters, aged 27 years, the man who, on his "previous" appearance on Saturday morning, described himself as a retired naval officer, was charged at the Magistrate's Court, before Mr H. A. Young, S.M., (1) with stealing, on June 10th, a motor-car, valued at £l5O, the property of the Dominion Motors, Ltd., and (2) with stealing, on May 28th, a Rugby., car, valued at £165, the property <of the New Zealand Automobiles, Ltd. ... Chief-Detective JT. Gibson appeared for the prosecution, and the accused was represented by Mr A. T. Bell. Frederick James Tattle, manager of , the Dominion Motors, Ltd, at Christchurch, knew the accused by doing business •fath him, but had seen him' only once. The firm had hired to hima second-hand Eugby car on January 7th, under the hire-purchase ; system. The, value of the car was £l5O, and altogether he had paid £55 off. that price. The accused had no right to part with the car. Dennis William Ferrier, who described himself as a tailor, carrying on' business in Colombo street, told how-he met the accused through a friend on June 9th, and how .eventually, he' bought a Rugby car from him, for £95. Walter Freeman Blackwell, manager of the retail department of the New Zealand Automobiles, Ltd., said he knew the accused, who, in May, brought a car in for repairs. The accused said ■ that he had considered purchasing a car as the one he was using belonged to the firm who employed him. While the other car was being repaired, the firm gave Welters the use . of a car which he agreed to purchase under the hire-purchase systeqi. The value of the car was £lO5, but the accused had paid only £ 15. He had no right to sell the car. Hubert Coles, a fruiterer, had met > the accused in the course of his business. On May 28th, witness bought from him a Rugby motor-car. This was the car which Mr Blackwell had identified. The prico witness paid was £6O cash. Detective J. C. Mayne said that on Juno 18th, with Detectivo J. Thomson, he arrested the accused on warrant. Witness read the warrant through, and the accused said: "Yes that is right." He also said that he had sold the car because he was in debt. On the second charge the accused admitted that he had sold the car to Mr Coles. The accused had nothing to say, reserved his defence, pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Mr Bell applied for bail. The Chief-Detective aaked that tho bail be substantial, as the accused's character was not of the best. Bail was fixed at a personal recognisance of £3OO, and ono surety of £3OO. Accused's application for suppression of his name was not granted.

The fox-terrier is the most popular home dog in Britain. The shaggy Airedale, which many owners believed to be the most human, ranks second. Kennel club statistics show that already this year 7000 fox-terriers' have been registered. The dachshund continues to slump in popularity. The dog population in Britain is approaching the three million mark.