MAGISTRATE’S COURT SIX YOUNG MEN ADMIT THEFTS AND CONVERSIONS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27675, 3 June 1955, Page 8

MAGISTRATE’S COURT SIX YOUNG MEN ADMIT THEFTS AND CONVERSIONS

When six young men stood in the dock in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to face, either individually or jointly In varying groups, a total of 21 charges of breaking and entering, receiving stolen goods, theft, and unlawful conversion of motor-vehicles they sometimes became confused and asked: “What make of car was it?” or “What kind of shop was it?” before they pleaded. One accused pleaded not guilty to one charge of attempting to break and enter premises and not guilty to the unlawful conversion of a motorcar valued at £450. Two of the accused pleaded not guilty to a joint charge of unlawfully converting a car valued at £275. Pleas of guilty were entered to the other charges. The prosecutor said that goods valued at £468 10s had been taken and goods worth £73 had not been recovered.

The accused were lan Harold Pattison, aged 22, a labourer; Ronald Trevor Anderson, aged 20, a motor mechanic; Neil Selwyn Thompson, aged 19, a labourer; Robert Hector John Kerr, aged 20, a labourer; Leonard Alfred Ford, aged 20, a labourer; and Harrison Te Whiu, aged 21. a labourer.

Mr J. G. Leggat appeared for Pattison and Te Whiu; Mr B. McClelland for Anderson; Mr B. J. Drake for Ford; and Mr B. S. McLaughlin for Thompson. A man, whose name was ordered not to be published meantime and who was represented by Mr H. SThomas, pleaded guilty to two charges of receiving stolen goods. Mr L. N. Ritchie, S.M., remanded all the accused to June 9 for sentence and the cases in which there were please of not guilty were stood over to the same date.

The prosecuting-officer, DetectiveSergeant E. G. Ward, said that on the night of May 12, Anderson and Thompson went to fenced-in yard for used cars and Thompson cut the chain on the gate. They picked out a car which Anderson drove away. Early the following morning they drove to Rangiora where they smashed the window of Marks jewellery shop, stole watches valued at £99 16s, and did damage of £3O. They were seen by at least one woman but drove off before the alarm could be raised. They returned to Christchurch where they broke into an electrician’s shop owned by Mr Frew. They stole a quantity of stock valued at £59, including two radios and three electric razors. They went to Anderson’s home with the booty. On May 17, the Anderson home was searched and Anderson and Thompson, with others, were arrested, said Detective-Sergeant Ward. All the property from Frew’s shop was recovered. Eight of the 15 watches stolen at Rangiora had been recovered. Thompson had not worked regularly since he arrived from Auckland some months ago. As a result of his influence, Anderson left his employment and embarked on a life of crime. - Number Plates Changed

Detective-Sergeant Ward said that on the night of May 16 Ford, Thompson, Anderson and Te Whiu were together in Tuam street and decided to convert a late model car. Anderson drove them all in the car to Belfast where Ford ,and Te Whiu took a set of number plates from a car and put them on the one that had been. convCTted. Anderson then drove them to a city council quarry in McCormacks Bay, where Thompson and another member of the party broke into the shed and stole clothing, tools and fuse cutters. Anderson, Thompson, Pattison, Te Whiu, Ford and another set off for Nor tn Canterbury. They broke into Burke’s garage in Amberley to get oil for the car. They went on to Waikari where they found the rear door of a chemist’s shop unlocked. Several of the party went into the shop and stole cameras, hot water bottles, electric blankets and other goods of a total value of £94 Ils 9d. They returned to Amberley where they again entered the premises of Burke and Company, and stole tools and money, of a total value of £2B 12s 2d.

They drove back to Belfast where Thompson broke into a service station but found nothing to steal. The party drove back to Christchurch where Ford took the car and, after dropping the others off at their homes, abandoned it about daylight. Later that morning the police went to Pattison’s home where Pattison and Te* Whiu were found asleep, said Detective-Sergeant Ward. Te Whiu was using an electric blanket and was hiding two of the stolen cameras in his bed. Pattison had another camera in his possession. The police also visited Anderson’s home where Anderson, Thompson and another member of the party were found asleep. Tools from Burke’s garage, all the tools and clothing from the quarry and all but one of the remainder of the cameras from the chemist’s shop were found in the room. In addition, there was a quantity of material from previous offences. Safe Taken Away On the night of April 24-25 the office of Murphy Brothers, brickmakers, was entered and the safe was taken away, said Detective-Sergeant Ward. The safe contained about £5 in cash and some cheques. ‘On April 25 the safe was found on a stopbank in Harewood road. It had been forced open and the property burned. Evidence was found to connect Thompson with the offence, which he had now admitted.

On the night of May 4 the tobacconist’s shop of Barry Edward Prisk was entered, and stock valued at £l6 10s 6d was stolen. Thompson admitted this offence, said Detective-Sergeant Ward. At the week-end of April 24 and 25 the shoe shop of Lakes, Ltd., at New Brighton was broken into and 21 pairs of shoes and an electric jug, of a total value of £5O 17s 9d, were stolen. The police went to Anderson’s home on May 17 and found some of the shoes there. Pattison, Thompson and Anderson had admitted being concerned in this offence. Eight pairs of shoes had been recovered. Ford and Kerr were told where the shoes were hidden and each helped himself to a pair. The premises of Perry’s Dry Cleaners, in Cashel street, were broken into on the night of May 7-8. Pattison was arrested on May 17 in connexion with other offences and admitted this one, said Detective-Sergeant Ward. Clothing to the value of £7O was stolen. About £4B worth had been recovered.

Pattison, Anderson and Thompson had admitted the conversion of a car valued at £lOOO from Fitzgerald avenue on the night of May 11. They drove it about and abandoned it undamaged in the morning. The same three converted a car in Ferry road on the night of May 13, drove it to church the following day, abandoning it undamaged. A juvenile was associated with them in this.

Detective-Sergeant Ward said that Pattison had not worked since his recent discharge from Borstal. Te Whiu had previous convictions and was recently discharged from prison. Thompson, who had pleaded guilty to being found in a hotel bar while under 21 and giving false information about his age, was a recent arrival from Onehunga. Anderson was not previously known to the police. Ford was recently discharged from Borstal. Kerr was not previously known to the police. ATTEMPTED THEFT George Edgar Pengelly, aged 58, a labourer, pleaded guilty to a charge that on May 26 he attempted to steal £25, the property of Yee Chung Choy. He was remanded to June 9 for a Probation Officer’s report, the Magistrate saying that he might send Pengelly to the Supreme Court for sentence. DetectiVe-Sergeant E. G. Ward said that Yee had a fish and chip shop in Ferry road. The shop was divided from the back premises by a curtain and Yee and Mrs Yee were in the kitchen. About 6.45 p.m., Mrs Yee saw on the curtain the shadow of a person going towards the cash register and

when she lifted the curtain she saw Pengelly with his hands on the cash register. She called her husband and he chased Pengelly along Ferry road and caught him. Pengelly did not open the till as he had pressed the keys only half down. There were £25 in notes and some silver in the till. Pengelly had 75 previous convictions, mostly for theft and being illegally on premises. FALSE PRETENCES Thomas John Henry Foote, aged 43, a labourer, and John Coysens, aged 30, a labourer, who were represented by Mr B. J. Drake, pleaded guilty to a joint charge of obtaining a pair of shoes valued at £2 16s and £l5 16s in money from David John Upton by falsely representing that a cheque for £lB 12s was a good and valid one. Foote pleaded guilty to the follow-! ing charges relating to valueless cheques: on May 20 obtaining £l2 4s from Madden and Richards, Ltd.; on May 13 obtaining groceries valued at £2 13s 8d and £2 in money from the Self-Help Co-op., Ltd.;, on May 9 obtaining vegetables worth 15s and £7 14s 6d in money from Eric Wilson Ovens; on May 7 obtaining groceries worth £1 10s and £7 in money from Elizabeth Gutterswyk; on May 14 obtaining goods valued at £1 7s 4d and £lO 16s 8d in money from Thora Hillary Adams: on May 20 obtaining goods valued at £1 12s 6d and £l4 19s 6d in money from A. J. White, Ltd.

Cousens pleaded guilty to the following charges relating to valueless cheques: on May 6 obtaining ale and spirits valued at £2 8s 6d and £l4 17s 6d in money from Frank Cross and Sons; on May 2 obtaining ale and spirits valued at £2 14s 9d and £l3 Is 9d from Quill Morris (1936), Ltd.: and a further charge of obtaining scrap metal valued at £6 from G. L. Bowron and Company, Ltd., by falsely representing that his name was V. Thomas and he needed the metal as a counterweight for a lever.

Both were remanded to June 9 for reports by the Probation Officer. Each was allowed bail in his own recognisance of £2OO and two sureties of £lOO on condition that he reports daily to the police.

Detective-Sergeant E. G. Ward said that Foote had 92 previous convictions. Cousens had some previous convictions too. The men had been associated in all the offences though they took the blame for different ones. The total money they obtained was £99 Is lid and goods valued at £l5 17s 9d. All that had been recovered was the pair of shoes and £l3 3s Id which Cousens had in his possession when arrested on May 26. DAMAGED WINDOW 1

Margaret Alice Hawkins, aged 23, pleaded guilty to a charge that on May 6 she wilfully damaged a plate glass window valued at £55 13s 6d, the property of David Crozier, Ltd., thereby committing mischief. The case was adjourned to June 9 for penalty and for a Probation Officer’s report.

Sub-Inspector F. J. Brady said that a man was walking along Worcester street about 10.50 p.m. on May 6 when he saw Hawkins cross the street with a bottle in her hand and break the window. The man stopped a taxi and called the police. When Sergeant Marriot arrived Hawkins was still breaking the window. She was covered with blood and was under the influence of liquor. Sub-Inspector Brady said that glass seemed to have a fascination for Hawkins. She broke 15 milk bottles in the same locality a few weeks ago. She was married, but lived apart from her husband, and had been associating with two known criminals. She had two previous convictions. THEFT OF TOOLS Arthur Shaw Lyttle, aged 62, a carpenter, pleaded guilty to a charge that on April 12 he stole tools valued at £9, the property of Lance Murdock. He was remanded to June 9 for sentence pending a report by the Probation Officer.

Detective-Sergeant E. G. Ward said that Lyttle had been working for Murdock, a builder, and left the day before the theft was discovered. He was interviewed and was quite frank about the theft. He said he was behind with his rent and had sold the tools to a dealer for 255. He was unable to say where he had sold them, and they had not been recovered. Lyttle was well known to the police. MOTOR-CYCLE CONVERTED Barry Edward Crowe, aged 18, a foundry labourer (Mr J. A. Bretherton), pleaded guilty to charges that on May 14 he unlawfully converted a motor-cycle valued at £l4O, the property of Mervon Vincent Lawrie, and that on March 22 he stole £2, the property of Eric Francis Joseph Dickson.

He was remanded to June 13 for sentence, and was allowed bail in his own recognisance of £2OO and two sureties of £ 100 each, on condition that he reports daily to the police. Detective-Sergeant E. G. Ward said that the motor-cycle was parked at the corner of Ferry road and Barbadoes street, and at 10.30 p.m. it was missing. The following day it- was found in Somerfield street. Crowe had been seen trying to start the motor-cycle the previous evening, and a householder sent his son to help. The motor-cycle was out of petrol and the householder gave Crowe £1 to buy petrol, and Crowe went away in a taxi, but did not return. The householder’s son saw Crowe in the street and kept him in sight until he was apprehended. The £1 had since been returned. The sum of £2 was taken by Crowe from a box underneath a bed in a house. Crowe found the key of the box, unlocked it, took the money, and relocked the box. He was before the Court on May 12 and was admitted to probation for two years. BREACH OF PROBATION

Doris Kay Reginald Watene, aged 28, a biscuit hand, pleaded guilty to a charge that on March 20, 1951, at Whangarei she committed a breach of the terms of her probation by failing to report as directed. She was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within six months if called upon. SUNDAY TRADING Edward Donald Tallot, of Victoria street, was fined 10s for selling a magazine, valued at Is, on Sunday, May 3. NO PERMIT FOR FIRE Stanley Clifford Johnstone was fined £1 for lighting a rubbish fire when he did not have a permit. UNREGISTERED MOTOR-VEHICLE George Edward Plane and Walter Ronald Miller were each convicted and ordered to pay costs for using an unregistered motor-vehicle they jointly owned. MAN FITTED £2 Herbert Edward Cain was fined £2 for casting offensive matter on April ON LICENSED PREMISES Norman Brown was fined £1 on a charge of being found on licensed premises, the Prebbleton Hotel, after hours on April 21. ADJOURNED FOR REPORT A man, whose name was ordered not to be published, and who was represented by Mr B. McClelland, pleaded not guilty to a charge of being deemed to be a rogue and a vagabond in that he collected subscriptions under a false pretence. Mr McClelland said the facts were not in dispute, but the question was whether the man knew he was committing an offence at all. He asked the Court to dismiss the case under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act. The Magistrate adjourned the case to June 9 for a report by the Probation Officer. FINED FOR ASSAULT i Charles William Edens, aged 35, a factory employee, pleaded not guilty to a charge that he assaulted Seffried Sydney Thompson on April 9. Edens said he Kit Thompson but it was self defence. He was convicted and fined £2. H£ pleaded guilty to a breach of his prohibition order and was fined 10s.

CHARGE DISMISSED John Francis Smith, aged 46, a welder (Mr J. G. Leggat), pleaded not guilty to a charge that on May 27 while under the influence of drink or drugs he drove a power-cycle in Colombo street. Sub-Inspector F. J. Brady, prosecuted. _ . ~ . Traffic Officer D. Weir said ne was called to the scene of an accident at 420 p.m. He considered Smith to be very much under the influence of liquor and took him to the police station. ' . Dr. F. L. Scott said he examined Smith at 4.45 p.m. and considered he was not fit to drive. Mr Leggat said the main defence was that the power-cycle had broken down two or three days before the accident and could only be used as an ordinary cycle at the time of the accident. It was incapable of mechanical propulsion at the time, so Smith could not be in charge of a motor-vehicle. There was a Supreme Court decision on the point. The only offence Smith could be charged with was in respect of a bicycle. After hearing evidence on the condition of the power unit, the Magistrate held that at the moment of impact it was not a live motor-vehicle and was being used as a push cycle. The case was dismissed. REMANDED Brian William Bulman, aged 29. a presser (Mr W. F. Brown), was further remanded on renewed bail to June 9 on a charge of committing a breach of the terms of his probation by failing to make restitution as directed. The Magistrate strongly advised Bulman to pay the remaining £7 by Friday evening as he had promised to do. Herbert Noel Scales, aged 33, a fitter (Mr W. F?Brown), was further remanded on renewed bail to June 9 on a charge that while under the influence of drink he was in charge of a motor-car in the yard of the Halswell Hotel on May 28.

CIVIL CASES (Before Mr Rex C. Abernethy, S.M.) CLAIM FOR WORK DONE Archibald’s Garage, Ltd., (Mr E. M. Hay) claimed £23 8s 4d from Thomas Arthur White, a civil servant (Mr A. D. Holland), for materials supplied and work done to a motor-car. Judgment was given for the plaintiff for the amount claimed. JUDGMENT FOR PLAINTIFF The New Zealand Farmers’ Cooperative Association of Canterbury, Ltd., was given judgment against Ngaio Carroll for £l2 18s 6d claimed as owing under a hire purchase agreement. JUDGMENT SUMMONSES On judgment summonses Alexander Cameron junior was ordered to pay the Commissioner of Inland Revenue £75 forthwith in default 75 days’ imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended as long as defendant pays £2 10s a week; Cecil Cyril Grainger was ordered to pay Maling and Co., Ltd., £1 14s lid forthwith in default two days’ imprisonment; N. G. McAliece was ordered to pay International University Society Proprietary, Ltd., £2O 7s forthwith, in default 21 days’ imprisonment; Ronald Bertie Moher was ordered to pay the Commissioner of Inland Revenue £32 10s 6d forthwith, in default 32 days’ ’imprisonment; Jack Rawson was ordered to pay Lucy Ellen Stoakes £l9 17s 6d fdrthwith, in default 21 days’ imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended as long as defendant pays £5 a fortnight; W. G. McCrone was ordered to pay Cash Order Purchases, Ltd., £l6 8s 5d forthwith, in default 17 days’ imprisonment; M. Ropata was ordered to pay Goodchild Drapery Co., Ltd., £l5 14s lid forthwith, in default 16 days’ imprisonment.