Young Men Sentenced For Car Conversion, Theft

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27502, 9 November 1954, Page 10

Young Men Sentenced For Car Conversion, Theft

Four young men who had pleaded guilty last week to charges of car conversion, theft, and breaking and entering, appeared for sentence before Mr Raymond Ferner, Sit, yesterday. They were James Eugene McCabe, aged 24. a woolshed band; Eugene Gerald Ringdahl, aged 21, a truck driver; Keith Moeroa Cummings, aged 24, a presser; and Roy Keith Ringdahl, aged 27, a bulldozer driver.

Mr J. G. Leggat appeared for the two Ringdahls, and Mr A. Hearn for McCabe and Cummings. The charges were:—Against McCabe and Eugene Ringdahl;. that on or about October 17 at. Waipara they stole a truck wheel, a rug and truck accessories of a total value of £24, the property of Godfrey George Hornung; that on October 16 they broke and entered the counting-house of J. K. Mooney and Company, Ltd. and committed theft; that on October 16 they converted a truck valued at £4OO, the of Hornung. Against Eugene Ringdahl and Cummings: that on September 24 they broke and entered Mooney’s premises and committed theft. Against Eugene and Roy Ringdahl: that on October 23 they unlawfully converted a car valued at £3OO, the property-.pf Jacobson's Car Sales: that on October 23 they converted a car valued at £250, the .properly of Jacobson's Car Sales: that on October 23 they broke add entered the counting house of Jacobson’s Car, Sales, 272 Tuam street, with intent th theft; and that on October 23 they broke . and entered the Farmers’ Car Sales, Moorhouse avenue, and- committed theft Eugene Ringdahl was ordered to be detained in Borstal for two years; Roy Ringdahl was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on each charge, the terms to be served concurrently; McCabe was sentenced to reformative detention for two years; and Cummings was admitted to probation for two years.

For the two Ringdahls, Mr Leggat said they came from a broken home. AU the escapades were' associated with liquor. Roy Ringdahl, he said, had made some effort in straightening up his life.

The Magistrate said that Eugene Ringdahl was one of the ring-leaders. He had been given probation in the past. The Magistrate said to Roy Ringdahl: “Only last March you were in court in Dunedin for theft. You were then given probation. It is disappointing to see you before the Court on so serious a charge.” Mr Hearn, for McCabe, said the accused was young . and flexible enough to adapt himself to society. Cummings, with proper supervision, could become a decent citizen.

Of McCabe, the Magistrate said .it seemed he was irresponsible, reckless and indulged too much in liquor. Cummings was involved to a minor extent in the offences, he said. SENT TO PRISON

*ln the present case the evidence seems incomplete, but I am satisfied that the accused was not fit to drive,” said the Magistrate when John Donald Baird, aged 27, a truck driver (Mr A. Hearn) appeared on a charge that on October 14. while under the influence of drink he drove a truck in Ranfurly street. He was sent to prison for seven days, his driver's licence was cancelled and he was prohibited from holding another for 18 months.

The accused pleaded not guilty. Dr. F. L. Scott said he had examined the accused. He was not a bad case but witness did not think he should drive.

Police witnesses said accused was not a serious case of Intoxication but he was not fit to drive. For the defence, Dr. C. Elliot said that when he saw the accused, about an hour after he was arrested, Baird was fit to drive a car. Baird, in evidence, said he had had about six beers. James McEnteer Harbidge, aged 32, a salesman, pleaded not guilty to a charge that on November 2, while unden the influence of drink, he drove a car in Moorhouse avenue. The police said the accused was seen driving at speed at 11.30 p.m. on November 2. A traffic officer had stopped him and brought him to the

police station. There he was examined by a doctor, who considered him unfit to drive. Mr R. Twyneham, for the accused, said Harbidge had had three glasses of whisky and one of beer. He had suffered injuries during the war and should never. drink. There was no evidence that the accused had driven erraticatiy and the doctor had said that it was a mild case of intoxication. . The accused was fined £l5, his driver’s licence was cancelled, and he was prohibited from holding another for. 18 months.

. „ CHARGE DISMISSED As the defendant has not had the th®t I do not myself believe that he the ’'“'da complained of,” said the Magistrate, dismissing two charges against George Duffan, aged 53, a buyer (Mr J. G. Leggat), of using indecent language in School road, Yaldhurst, on October 6. pleaded not guilty to both The Magistrate dismissed the ar^.^ er h 'r? rlng submissions from KrTSi Tate ed DetecUve - Se rgeant A. B.

DESERTION CHARGE DISMISSED The Magistrate dismissed without prejudice an information laid by the New Zealand SMpping Company (Mr ii„ against Douglas David Eric Gordon, aged 25. now a a’YocV tha ? on June 3, 1951, at Port Ahunri, Napier, being se 2E an engaged to sea service in the Ottawa Valley, having signed on tire articles, he- deserted from the ship. - e details contained in the extracts from the official log book of the ship, certified to by the Assistant RegistrarGeneral, did not correspond with the date and time mentioned in the information, and did not tend to prove it, said the Magistrate. The discrepancies were more than formal.

REMANDED John Douglas Austin, aged 26, a milkman (Mr R. A. Young), was remanded to November 11 on a charge that on November 6, while under the influence of drink, he drove a vehicle m Oxford terrace. Bail was renewed. Rang! Stewart Dickson, aged 34, a panelbeater, appeared on a charge that on October 30, while under the influence of drink, he drove a car in Moorhouse avenue. He was also charged with having no warrant of fitness. The police asked for the accused to be remanded until November 15. Bail of £25 was renewed. John Anderson, aged 43; a machinist (Mr B. J. Drake), was remanded until November 15 on a charge that on November 6, while under the influence of drink, he drove a car in Papanui road. Bail of £25 was renewed. Leonard Desmond Turvey, aged 21, a labourer (Mr J. G. Leggat), was remanded to November 15 on a charge that on November 4 he assaulted ponald McDonald. Bail was renewed. REMANDED FOR SENTENCE Colin Bruce Pullan, aged 29, a labourer (Mr B. J. Drake), pleaded guilty to a charge of obscene exposure on October 30 at the corner of Hill View and Phillip streets. Mr Drake said Pullan had been drinking, but did not make that his excuse: he was affected by the heat. Pullan was remanded for sentence to November 15 for a Probation Officer’s report. Bai! was renewed. (Before Mr Rex C. Abernethy, S.M.) INDECENT ASSAULT Appearing on a charge of indecently assaulting a female on October 20, Alfred Collins Bateman, aged 56, an engineer, was told by the Magistrate: “It would seem that since 1925 liquor has been your bane. It has got to a stage that you have lost self criticism. When drunk or nearly drunk you are liable to do anything. You are lucky you are not facing a charge of rape. I have come to the conclusion that you need to be put away for a period, for an offence like this is extremely serious.” The accused, for whom Mr Ji' G. Leggat appeared, was sentenced to reformative detention for 18 months.