“UNLAWFUL BORROWING”

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 221, 19 June 1928, Page 16

“UNLAWFUL BORROWING”

I YOUNG MAN'S USE 01' MOTORCAR. i Stating that his father had given him permission to use a car belonging to Mr. Percy Helming, Stephen Percival Matterson, a storeman, aged 2,1, pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate's Court yesterday to a charge of unlawfully converting the car to his own use. Stephen Henry Matterson (father of ;'l the other accused) was charged with counselling and procuring the commis- , sioh of the offence, and pleaded not ’ guilty, i ( Chief-Detective Ward, said that Mr. Helming garaged his car with Matterson, sen., and that as the result of something he heard, went to the garage and found that his car was missing. Short1 • ly after midnight Matterson, jun., drove up with the car. A police officer was waiting with Mr. Helming, and Matterson, who admitted not having any authority to take the car, escaped before he could be arrested. The next day he went to the police station and made a ■ statement to the effect that he had no authority to take the car. Later he stated that his father had given him permission to use the car to bring a young lady

home from a dance. , Mr. Helming said that the car had 1 been taken before, but, out of respect i. to the boy’s parents be had not made any charges. The Magistrate (Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M.) remarked that the using of other people's motor-cars without authority was a serious matter, the user being

liable to imprisonment. He looked ou I the case more as one of unlawful borrowing, and decided to impose a fine of ' £5.

The charge, against Matterson, sen. yvas dismissed.