THEFTS OF CARS ALLEGED

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25629, 19 October 1948, Page 3

THEFTS OF CARS ALLEGED

TRIAL OF SALESMAN OPENS

CROWN CASE OUTLINED I (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 18. ! Fifteen counts of theft relating to 11 different motor-cars and four alternative counts relating to the theft of proceeds from the sale of cars were brought against Freeman Ronald Raine, motor salesman, aged 31, in the Supreme' Court to-day. Raine, who was represented by Mr W. J. Stacey, pleaded not guilty to all counts. Mr W. H. Cunningham prosecuted, and Mr R. E. Tripe appeared for those interested in the civil aspect of the case. Mr Justice Cornish was on the Bench. The total value of the 11 cars involved in the charges was £4OOO. Mr Cunningham said evidence would be called about the disposal by accused of 11 additional cars, the whereabouts of which were unknown. Their total value was £4275. , There was no question ot the accused’s having stolen the cars by taking them from the owners, said Mr Cunningham. He had been entrusted to sell them and, after he had gained possession of them, he had converted them to- his own use. Between November, 1947, and April, 1948,

22 cars had been disposed of. "The suggestion will be that accused was engaged in a very fraudulent system of getting cars and disposing of them to the detriment of owners,” Mr Cunningham said. “Four of the cars were sold for cash, not necessarily in accordance with the instructions of the owners, three were handed over to persons to whom accused owed money in payment of his bets, and four cars which he had for sale he traded in to acquire another car for himself.”

During the period the motor-cars were dealt with, the accused had been an undischarged bankrupt, said Mr Cunningham.

Counsel was leading evidence along the lines of his opeping when the Court rose till to-morrow.