CAR HITS TRAIN

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

CAR HITS TRAIN

Paekakariki Collision GAOL FOR DRIVER Three months’ imprisonment was the sentence imposed upon Eric John Bonner, a grocer’s assistant, aged 23 (Mr. Virtue), who was charged in the police court yesterday with unlawful conversion of a ear, which was taken recently from a Wellington street and crashed into a train at Paekakariki about an hour and a half later. Chief-Detective Holmes said that the car, valued at £265, was the property of Mr. A. W. H. Tilley, and had been stolen from Courtenay Place just after 3.40 p.m. About 5 p.m. it struck the second coach of the New Plymouth-Wellington express at McKay’s crossing, north of Paekakariki Station. Bonner got out of the car and climbed up some hills nearby, remaining for about an hour before returning to the scene of the accident, where he then found the Paekakariki stationmaster. He twice gave an assumed name after the accident, but gave finally his correct name. Bonner said he had been given a lift by two men. The fireman, however, and also a small boy who witnessed the accident, said that the car had only one passenger. Damage to the car had been estimated at more than £l5O. For Bonner, who had pleaded guilty, Mr. Virtue said that the outline of the facts given by the police was substantially correct. Bonner’s story, however, was that he had been taken from Wellington to Paekakariki by motor-lorry. Outside the Pr.-kakariki Hotel he was invited to go on toward Wanganui in a car with two men. From remarks made in the car be thought that there was “something fishy” about the business. They had not gone very far when the collision occurred, and Bonner said that the two men decamped straight away. The magistrate, Mr. E. PagCj said that Bonner had been twice previously convicted on charges of conversion and also on theft charges. “He has not learned his lesson. On this charge I propose to sentence him to three months’ imprisonment,” Mr. Page said. Irregularities With Money Irregularities which he committed while in the employ of Lloyd’s Insurance Brokers led to the appearance of Herbert Mayer Flinders, a clerk, aged 30 (Mr. Stewart), on a charge of failing to account for various sums of money totalling £4B/11/11. He was further charged with obtaining 11/6 from Herbert Shepherdson by false pretences. Pleading guilty to both offences, he was remanded on bail to appear for sentence this morning. The chief-deteetiro explained that Flinders had been employed as a clerk by Lloyd’s representatives from April.. 1929. until January, 1931. When in the office he received proposals for insurance from clients and stole by manipulation of receipts sums of money which were paid in from time to time. The thefts were not: discovered until January this year, when he was dismissed. He promised to make restitution, but so far had not paid anything in. Since his dismissal he had been approached by a man who thought he was still employed by Lloyd’s Brokers, and accepted from him a payment of 11/6 which he converted to his own use. Mr. Stewart, for Flinders, suggested that the prisoner might be placed on probation. He was a married . man with three small children. Flinders admitted that he took the money. Times were hard. and he succumbed to the temptation. “The relatives will be agreeable.” said Mr. Stewart. “to restore the amount stolen, and T think if the, court gives him a chance he has had a lesson and will make good.” The magistrate indicated that he would take time to consider the matter. Bail was allowed. Placed On Probation Peter McCombie, a waiter, aged 10, and Kenneth Murry White, a motordriver, aged 21. were charged with unlawfully converting to their own use nt Hamilton a motor-ear valued at £l2O. the property of Walter Henry Vickers. Neither had been before the court before. The. magistrate placed them on probation for 12 months, ordering them to pay equally for the damage estimated at £l4/10/- which had been done to the car.