STEALING PETROL

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21090, 15 February 1934, Page 5

STEALING PETROL

THIEVES DISCOVERED IN THE ACT (rRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAM.) NEW PLYMOUTH, February 14. A story of a chase in the dark afte» a man and a woman who had been found siphoning benzine from motorcars was related in the Magistrate* Court to-day, when Lucille Chattenmt Anita Williamson and William Wilson Pratt were charged with stealing six gallons of benzine. \ taxi-driver discovered the two accused in the drive of the Boys' High School. They drove away in a car and he chased them into a blind street and drew his car across the entrance in an attempt to trap them. They dashed past, but the taxi pursued them through the town and captured them in Devon street east. Pratt was taken back to the school, where he denied the theft, but later offered to pay for the benzine. The police were called, but through a mistake in a message hurried to the Girls' High School. After waiting some time the captors allowed tha thieves to go free. From the description given, the police arrested them at Fitzroy motor camp. Both pleaded guilty. They had been hawking drapery as man and wife, but the woman was married to an« other man and living apart from him. The police alleged that they left a trail of offences behind them in their travels. The hearing of several of these charges was adjourned. Pratt was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and Mrs Williamson to one month's jmprisonnjent.