SENT TO PRISON

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 154, 26 March 1931, Page 11

SENT TO PRISON

Ex-champion Swimmer CARS CONVERTED Dominion Special Service. Auckland, March 25. A former New Zealand middle-distance swimming ■ champion, Aubrey Ernest Baird, aged 24* was sent to gaol for three months by Mr. F. K. Hunt, SAI., on two charges of converting motor-cars to his own use. He pleaded guilty. Associated with Baird was Ronald Laurence Morrison, a mechanic, aged 27, who appeared on the same charges. Baird was further charged with stealing £4/10/- in money from a boardinghouse at Ashburton, and also pleaded guilty to that charge. Morrison was remanded until to-mor-row so that a report could be obtained from the probation officer. Detective Packman said he interviewed Morrison on two occasions. The first time Morrison said he knew nothing about the theft of oars. In Morrison s second statement to the detective he said: “I knew Baird was going to steal the car, and I tried to persuade him not to take it. He had too much drink in him to drive a car, so I went with him to see that nothing happened. I persuaded him to get out of the car at Papatoetoe, then we got a lift back to town. “Well, they are both convicted,’ said the magistrate. “What about this other charge against Baird?” “Baird stole £4/10/- from a boardinghouse at Ashburton,” said DetectiveSergeant Kelly. He left a note in a lodger’s room saying that he was sorry he had taken the money, and that he would send it back some day. He was arrested on that charge, and it was found that he had taken these cars. He has one previous conviction for obscene language.” , , . Mr. Noble, who appeared for both men, said he was prepared to call evidence to show that accused were of good character. Baird was a New Zealand champion swimmer, and — Mr. Hunt: Well, he won’t swim for three months! Three months’ gaol for him. . . , In the case of Morrison, the magistrate said that if he got a favourable report he would place accused on probation, but if the report were unfavourable, he would go to Mount Eden for a month.