Claimed He Was Southland Farmet

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30998, 2 March 1966, Page 3

Claimed He Was Southland Farmet

.\eio Zealand Press Association)

PALMERSTON NORTH. March 1

How a 56-year-old man released from prison three weeks ago obtained ownership of a new £1525 motor car was related by the police in the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court today, when Percy William Dyhrberg pleaded guilty to falsely representing in Auckland that he was a Southland farmer with an account with an Invercargill stock firm.

Detective-Sergeant W. J. Ross 'told Mr D .G. Sinclair, S.M., that on February 23 accused, after gaining at a hotel the confidence of a Southland farmer about to go on a cruise, told an Auckland garage that he wished to buy a car. The cost would be charged to his account with the Southland firm. He selected a car, on the understanding that his bona tides would be checked. When this had been done to the satisfaction of the motor firm, accused arranged for the car to be delivered to a hotel, and the registration transferred.

On February 28 accused came under the notice of the police at Feilding because of his association with the car.

at a time when the Auckland firm was still convinced of his good faith, said Sergeant Ross. It transpired that the accused had met the Southland farmer at an Auckland hotel, and had used his information of the farmer’s background to get the car, which was recovered undamaged.

Accused had been released from prison three weeks ago. Since then he had done no work. He was now on probation, and had intended selling the car in Wellington before embarking for Australia. The Magistrate convicted and remanded the accused in custody until Monday for a probation officer’s report and sentence.