MAORI SENTENCED FOR CAR CONVERSIONS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 103, 25 January 1939, Page 15

MAORI SENTENCED FOR CAR CONVERSIONS

Collisions In Hastings

“MOST SERIOUS CASE FOR SEVERAL YEARS”

Dominion Special Service. HASTINGS. January 21. Described by Detective-Sergeant L. Revell us the most serious case of motorcar conversion that bad occurred in Hastings for several years, a Maori, Timati l.’araire Tunua. appeared in the Magistrates’ Court, Hastings, on two charges of converting ears to his own use on January 14. Tunua was convicted and sentenced to a period of reformative detention not exceeding IS months. The ears concerned were owned by Donald Thompson and J. L. Elliott. There was a further charge of wilfully damaging a ear ‘belonging to J. R. Double. Detective-Sergeant Revell said Tunua came to Hastings on January 14, and became very drunk. Me took possession of Thompson’s car from the Post Office, and at the intersection of Heretaunga Street and Riverslea Road deliberately collided with a stationary ear owned by Double. The car Tunua was driving crashed through a fence into a vacant section, ami when it came to a standstill he ran away. Soon after he took Elliott’s car, ami after driving a short distance crashed into a tree. He was then driven home in a taxi. In a statement to the police Tunua said he quarrelled with a friend and determined to commit suicide. TWO YOUTHS SENT TO BORSTAL Journey From Auckland To Wanganui WANGANUI, January 24. Two youths, described as “bad characters, with nothing to choose between them,” bv Mr. J. 11. Salmon, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, Wanganui, this morning, were sentenced to Borstal for a term not exceeding three years. They were sentenced for the conversion of cars ana were ordered to come up for sentence on several other charges if called on. Senior-Sergeant L. R. Capp, who prosecuted for the police, said both accused, Raymond Sidnev Adams and George William Clia.se, were about 19. years of age. Adams was living in Auckland but. left there to work on a farm in Kohukohu. lie stole a diamond ring while the people of the house were away and left for le Kuiti, where be stole an overcoat. In Taumarunui. Adams met Chase, whom he had known previously. They decided to steal a car, but could not find one till they reached Matapuna, where they converted to their own use a car belonging tq Ernest L. Sullivan. When the car ran out of benzine, it was abandoned, and the two youths then walked to Horopito, where they arrived on January 17. They slept in the schoolhouse and stole two jersevs when they left. Proceeding to Raetihi, they stole a quantity of food from a motor camp and took a motorcar owned by Ernest Gorringe from a garage there. The car ran out of petrol in Otoko. A gallon of spirit was taken from a drum found on the roadside, and the car was finally abandoned in Makirikiri. Accused were arrested in Wanganui. _ , , Tlie magistrate said that Adams had a greater number of charges against him, and was obviously the greater offender. The previous character borne by Chase, however, showed that there was nothing between them, as both had bad lists.

jail for Labourer

Car Conversion And Theft

WANGANUI, January 24.

“You have a bad record; car conversions must be met. with imprisonment,” said Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., today in the Magistrates’ Court, Wanganui, when sentencing Herbert Henry Ash to three months’ imprisonment for unlawfully converting a car to his own use Ju Te Kuiti. Ash was also sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for the theft of a suitcase and one month for a breach of a prohibition order, the sentences to be concurrent.

Detective J. Murray said accused was a labourer;* 33 years of age. He converted a car in Te Kuiti and drove it to Taumarunui, where it was abandoned. He then came to Wanganui, obtaining rides on the way, and was arrested on h . arrival. On inquiries being made, it was ascertained that Ash was associated with the theft of a suitcase belonging to Mrs. E. M. Allpress, containing a fur coat, articles of clothing, and a child's money box. . The suitcase had been removed from the carrier of a ear. The inonev box bad been rilled and then been sent to a garage in Wanganui under a false name. The suitcase had later been recovered and the contents were found to be intact.

Ash, who admitted the theft, had a Jong list of previous offences.