Magistrate’s Court YOUTHS ADMIT THEFT AND CAR CONVERSION

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28321, 5 July 1957, Page 16

Magistrate’s Court YOUTHS ADMIT THEFT AND CAR CONVERSION

Two youths admitted a series of offences in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M., remanded them to July 11 for a Probation Officer’s report and for sentence.

The accused were Brian James Walker, aged 17, and John Joseph Stace, aged 17. The charges included interfering with a motorcar, valued at £7OO, the property of Frank Thompson, on May 4; breaking and entering by day a house in Worsley road and committing theft on April 26; wilfully damaging lawns and shrubs, the property of the Reserves Department of the Christchurch City Council, to the extent of £ll on May 12; stealing goods to the value of £2 7s 9d from various persons between March 13 and May 13; and stealing two overcoats valued at £lO each from John Michael Collier and Bruce Arnold Bryson between May 6 and May 20.

Stace was separately charged with unlawfully converting to his own use a motor-car valued at £5OO, the property of Lewis Naylor Hudson, on May 12. and a motor-car valued at £2OO, the property of Maurice Edward Washbourne; with interfering with a motor-car valued at £7OO, the property of Colin Frank Henderson, and with stealing a tie valued at 12s 6d, a camera valued at £2O. the property of David Edward Payne. Walker was charged with unlawfully converting to his own use a motor-car valued at £4OO, the property of Lewis Thomas Amos on May 12.

Senior Detective J. B. McLean said the two accused had been associated in crime with two other youths who had already appeared in the Children’s Court. Reports had been received of motor-cars being erratically driven on the City Council’s reserves at New Brighton and Papanui. It seemed that on May 12 the party set out to take motor-cars and four were unlawfully converted; driven in turn and abandoned. When searching the premises occupied by Walker and Stace the police found a big amount of stolen property some of which had been returned to the owners because of newspaper publicity. From a house which they broke into they had taken a good sum of money which Walker had used as a deposit on a motor-car. The value of goods stolen or converted amounted to £3300, and damage amounted to £269. OBSCENE LANGUAGE Allan Garrett Penrose, aged 38. a workman, was fined £5 when he pleaded guilty to a charge of using obscene language in Colombo street on July 3. BREACH OF PROBATION Ronald Bernard Sherlock, aged 22. a machine-moulder, was fined £l5 for a breach of the terms oil

his release on probation in that he failed to report as directed. SIX MONTHS’ GAOL William Pickles, aged 35, a workman, appeared for sentence on a charge of breaking and entering, and on the application of Mr D. W. Aitken, Probation Officer, on two charges of theft for which he had been admitted to probation on December 13. Pickles was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on the charge of breaking and entering and to three months on each of the other two charges, one to be cumulative. The Magistrate said a disturbing feature of the case was that the latest offence had been committed while accused was on probation. DEFERRED SENTENCE Ronald Albert Hall, aged 20, a labourer (Mr N. G. Hattaway) was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence in two years if called on when he appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing a money box and £4 in money. He was ordered to make restitution of the sum of £4. Mr Hattaway said the Court was not dealing with a man of normal intelligence. The theft was committed on the spur of the moment and was not premeditated. From now on firmer parental control was promised and the Probation Officer had suggested a deferred sentence. FINED FOR THEFT A man whose name was ordered not to be published was fined £5 on a charge of theft and was ordered to make restitution of the sum of £3 2s 6d. COMMITTED TO HOME John Henry Savage, aged 81, a pensioner, charged with committing a grossly indecent act in Victoria Square on July 1, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called on within two years on condition that he remains in the Tuarangi (Ashburton) Home for that period. FALSE PRETENCES Jack Dumpleton, aged 22 (Mt S. G. Brockett), was remanded to July 11 for sentence and a Probation Officer’s report when he pleaded guilty to obtaining £lO from Finneys, Ltd., £lO from Kathleen Ryan, and a suit valued at £22 19s 6d and £7 Os 6d from Beath and Co., Ltd., by the issue of valueless cheques. Bail was refused. Senior-Detective J. B. McLean said accused had come under the influence of a clever Australian confidence trickster and had worked under his instructions.

BREAKING AND ENTERING Leslie Desmond Johnston, aged 18, a workman, pleaded guilty to a series of charges. He was charged with breaking and enterling the counting house of the

[Lyttelton Harbour Board and committing theft; with attempting to break and enter the shop of I Self Help, Ltd., High street, with i intent to commit theft; with breaking and entering the shop of J. Nuttall, 101 Manchester street; with attempting to break and enter the shop of Stewart Knight, at 220 A Ferry road, with intent to commit theft; with breaking and entering the shop of Ivan Hitchens, 343 Cashel street, and committing theft; and with breaking and entering the counting-house of the Christchurch Transport Board and committing theft on June 24.

Senior-Detective J. B. McLean said that at 5.3 a.m. on June 24 a constable on duty had found a pane of glass broken in the Transport Board’s office. It had been found that £l5 in money had been taken. At 5.30 a.m. it was found that the Harbour Boards offices had been entered and a tape recorder and keys, which had since been recovered, had been taken. Restitution of £2l 7s lid was asked for. Johnston was remanded to July 11 for sentence. THEFT OF POTATOES William George Blackler. aged 31, a truck-driver (Mr B. McClelland) and Leonard Jack Houghton, aged 31, an electrician (Mr D. W. Russell) pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing 50 bags of potatoes, valued at £l5O, the property of Kenneth William Busch on June 9. Senior-Detective McLean said that on June 9 the two accused had attended a function at which they had consumed some liquor. They later went to the Sockburn Railway yards and took 50 bags of potatoes which they delivered to Houghton’s place. Both had admitted stealing the potatoes, most of which had been recovered, undamaged. No restitution was asked. Both were remanded for sentence to July 11, bail being allowed each in the sum of £lOO and one surety of £lOO. ADMITTED TO PROBATION Jillian Elizabeth Barkley, aged 17. a nursing aid (Mr J. G. Leggat), was admitted to probation for two years when she pleaded guilty to stealing blankets and sheets valued at £7 5s the property of the North Canterbury • Hospital Board. THEFT OF BICYCLE Raymond Robert Williams, aged 18, an apprentice boilermaker, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a bicycle valued at £33, the property of Paul Agger Braae, on June 17. Accused was convicted and ordered to make restitution of the sum of £9. DANGEROUS DOG For being the owner of a dog which attacked Margaret Amy Clark on Sutherlands road. Halswell, on May 6, Peter Thomas Welsh was fined £6. LIQUOR NEAR DANCE HALL For being in possession of liquor near the Addington Workshops Social Hall while a dance was being held on March 28,1 Charles Donald Hare and Matthew Teller were each fined £3.1 REMANDED Thomas Henry Grenfell, aged 32, a truck-driver, charged with obtaining £1 from Lucy May Withers by false pretences, was 1 remanded to July 11. Bail was renewed.

Donald McNaughton, aged 42, barman, was remanded in cus-

tody to July 11 for sentence when he pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault on a male and two charges of indecent assault on a female. Ronald Keith Ayers, aged 21, a platelayer, who appeared for sentence on five charges oi breaking and entering and theft and one of attempted breaking and entering and theft, and Harold Lloyd Ayers, aged 24, a workman, who appeared for sentence on a charge of receiving: stolen property, were further remanded to July 11.

Charged with receiving 1000 cigarettes, chocolates and wine of a total value of £5 18s sd, knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained, Karl Alfred Dollman, aged 19 (Mr B. McClelland) was remanded to July 11.

Bail was allowed in the sum of £5O and one surety of £5O. TWO YEARS’ PROBATION

Fred Harvey, aged 24 (Mr B. J. Drake), who appeared for sentence on a charge of breaking and entering the Lancaster Park Hotel and stealing pay envelopes containing £l5 17s Bd, was admitted to two years’ probation and was ordered to take out a prohibition ! order and abstain from taking liquor during that period. He was also ordered to make restitution of the sum of £l5 17s 8d and to pay 10s for the damage to a door at the hotel. “There are some unusual features of this case,” said the MagI istrate. “You are here on your i own admission. Drinking is your I trouble, but you do not appear i to be criminally inclined. You jmust break your addiction to • liquor.” I CHARGE DISMISSED 1 Charged with driving a motorcar while under the influence of drink Paul Petrus Van der Meer, aged 26, a welder, pleaded not guilty. He was represented by Mr P. G. S. Penlington. I Constable T. E. Longley said that about 4.45 p.m. on June 28 he was on duty in plain clothes in Cashel street when he saw a car driven by accused cross the intersection of Cashel and High streets. The car was driven in a jerking manner with the engine roaring and a woman pedestrian had to jump to avoid being struck by the car. Shortly after he saw the same car parked outside Tattersall’s Hotel on a parking space. The back mudguard of the car was over a bicycle that was leaning against a lamp post. When accused went to the rear of the car he was unsteady on his feet, said witness. Bending over the mudguard accused fell • forward and grabbed at the (bicycle. His eyes were bloodshot (and his breath smelt strongly of (liquor. Witness then arrested Van der Meer for being drunk I in charge. “I considered this | man definitely unfit to be in charge of a car,” said Constable Longley. Corroborative evidence was given by Constable W. W. Maloney, who was with Constable .Longley at the time Van der Meer • was arrested. Witness in reply to (Mr Penlington said that he was not sent out to look for drivers under the influence of liquor. I For the police inspector C. H. Reardon submitted a report of an ' examination made by a police doctor at the police station. It was not intended to call the doctor because the report had j beerr favourable to the accused.

The report was not complete and was not of much value, he said. Constable J. D. Burrell who was on duty in the watchhouse of the police station when accused was brought in, said that he considered I Van der Meer a borderline case with the balance slightly in hiss favour.

Evidence was given by Sergeant R. W. Hope that Van der Meer was hazy about events that had taken place in Cashel street. He did not consider accused to be a bad case and if he had been in the constable’s place he would [merely have impounded the keys |of Van der Meer’s car for a few hours. He did not, however, agree with the doctor’s conclusion that accused was fit to drive.

Van tier Meer, in evidence said his work as a welder sometimes gave him blood-shot eyes and that He was often handicapped in walking and standing by an injury to his foot.’On- June 28 he had six beers in a hotel after which he had had a meal in a snack bar and later drove home. He returned to town in his car to buy some cigarettes and had not had a drink since 2.30 p.m. when he left a hotel. The clutch of his car was stiff and sometimes made the car move in a jerky fashion.

Dismissing the charge the Magistrate said that it was unfortunate that the doctor’s report was not much use although it was obvious that accused had taken a good deal of liquor. As there was some doubt that Van der Meer was unfit to drive he should be given the benefit of the doubt. FIGHTING CHARGE

No evidence against the defendant was given by the police when Trevor James Dellow, aged 18, a carpenter’s labourer, appeared on a charge of fighting in Ferry road on May 19. Dellow pleaded not guilty and was represented by Mr B. J. Drake.

Dismissing the charge, the Magistrate said that accused had been wrongly charged. Nicolas Thomas Wade, aged 23, who was charged -jointly with Dellow, was convicted and fined £3, after evidence had been given by the police that Wade had attacked Dellow outside a telephone box and that the latter had offered no resistance. CIVIL CASES (Before Mr L. N. Ritchie, S.M.) POSSESSION ORDER The Christchurch City Council (Mr M. G. Weston) was given judgment in a claim against D. V. Mangan for possession of a flat at 1 Harewood Transit Camp, and £3(l 6s arrears of In an action by R. J. L. Cole (Mr G. S. Branthwaite) for possession of a cottage and payment of £ll9 8s 6d arrears of rent against P. J. Close, judgment was given for the plaintiff. An order for possession of land was granted in favour of the National Mutual Life Association of Australasia, Ltd. (Mr A. B. Hobbs), in an action against Norman Charles Milne. Judgment for the plaintiff was Piven in the following claims:—J. S. Lewis v. Walter Harold McDonald. £2O; Frederick E. Musgrove v. R. J. Cant, £4 15s; Baker Brothers Estate Agents, Ltd., v. W. J. Lowne, £5 15s 6d. JUDGMENT SUMMONSES In judgment summonses the following orders were made:—

G. M. Edmonds to pay E. W. George, £34, in default 34 days’ Imprisonment; Clarence Morgan Davies to pay Rental Services, Ltd., £127 12s sd, in default three months' imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended on payment of £3 weekly; J. H Salt, to pay D. C. Barford. £23 17s 3d, in default 23 days’ imprisonment; Herbert Martin Stewart to pay the Commissioner of Inland Revenue £5 18s, in default five days’ imprisonment; Arthur John Kitson (junior), to paj' the Commissioner of Inland Revenue £39 2s 6d, in default 39 days’ imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended on payment of £4 weekly; Trevor Young to pay David Marra £3O 15s, in' default 30 days’ imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended on payment of £2 weekly: D. Hellyer to pay R. C. Horsley, Ltd., £l2 4s 9d, in default 12 days’ imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended on payment of 10s weeklv: R. C. Cassidy to pay State Coal Depot £4 Bs, in default four days’ imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended on payment of 10s weekly; E. Clydesdale to pay Dray-ton-Jones, l td.. £l4 8s 9d. in default 14 days' imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended on payment of 10s weeklv; R. A. Aplin to nay Maddens and Richards, Ltd., £4 6s lOd, in default four days’ imprisonment; G. Kearns to nay Stacey and Hawker, Ltd., £8 17s, in default eight, days’ imprisonment: R. Taylor to pay G‘. Howden and Company, Ltd., £3 15s, in default three days’ imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended on payment of 10s weekly; N. Kala to pay P. Perna £9 15s, in default nine days’ Imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended on payment of 10s weekly.