STOLE FROM CAR

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 188, 7 May 1931, Page 11

STOLE FROM CAR

Lorry-driver Fined

EMPLOYERS’ EVIDENCE Helped by the evidence of his employer, who was willing to reinstate him in a position of some responsibility, John Edward Condren (Mr. Hanna), a service lorry-driver, was fined £5 in the Police Court yesterday when he pleaded guilty to the theft of motor-car accessories to a total value of £4/7/-. Convicted on a further charge of stealing a carburettor, he was ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months if called upon. Sub-Inspector Ward, for the police, said that a car had been stolen from a parking place in Masterton on September 24 last, and found wrecked on the side of the road near Carterton the following morning. Accused, the subinspector explained,* was the regular driver of a lorry between Masterton and Wellington, and as he was passing the wrecked car he stopped and stole the accessories from it. In respect to the second charge, accused had been riding a motor-cycle in Kelburn, and saw another by the side of the road from which he took the carburettor. Condren had one previous conviction for theft in 1922. Called by Mr. Hanna, the manager of the firm for whom Condren worked, said he had known accused for two and a half years, during the last two of which he had been employed on the run from Wellington to Masterton. The position involved the handling of money and valuable parcels, said witness, and the firm had had no occasion to doubt Condren’s honesty. They had always trusted him. and he was a hard working, industrious man. They were quite willing to reinstate him in his present position, with careful supervision, if he were not sent to prison.

Mrir, Hanna said that the action of taking' parts away from wrecked cars seemed to hold a big temptation for people. They did not realise, perhaps, that they were committing theft. The things taken were regarded almost as souvenirs. In Condren's case he had had no use for the accessories whatever and would like to have given them back or to get rid of them. He could not do this, however, and they were found in his room. Counsel submitted that notwithstanding the previous conviction, accused might be treated as a first offender. • He was sure the court did not wish to send to prison n man who was in employment and who had been going straight since 1022. He suggested that a fine rather than imprisonment should be the sentence imposed. The magistrate, Mr. E. Page, S.M., fined him accordingly and he was ordered to .make good the damage. An order for the return of the accessories was also made. Committed for Sentence William King, a labourer, aged 57, pleaded guilty to three charges of indecent assault and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.