YOUTH’S ESCAPADE

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 100, 22 January 1926, Page 5

YOUTH’S ESCAPADE

PREFERRED JOY-RIDING TO WORK

Joy-riding in his employer’s car was preferred by Roy Edward Ralph, a youth, to working in the fields at Woodville. He had not gone far, however, before the police were informed of the escapade, and he was brought before the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, when he admitted two charges of unlawfully converting cars to his own use. He also pleaded guilty to stealing a tin of benzine valued at Bs. Gd., the property of Charles Hodgins. "This'young man was an inmate of an industrial school and was hired out to work by a farmer at Woodville.” said Acting Chief Detective Walsh. "He commandeered his employer’s car and cleared out to Masterton, where ho abandoned the car. Ho loitered round there for a few days, and then took another car and drove on to Petono. He is seventeen years of ago. and has previously been convicted for theft and indecent assault. He lias been given several chances, am! has elven us a good deal of trouble.’’ On the charge of theft, Ralph was ordered to bo detained in a Boistal institution for a period not exceeding three years. On (he other two charges, be was convicted nnd ordered to come up for sentence when called upon within three years.