LESSON UNHEEDED
GAOL FOR THREE MONTHS
CRASH INTO TRAIN
Tho accident at: 9 a railway crossing near Packakariki on 17th March, when a motor-car ran into a train, had its sequel in tho. Magistrate's Court today when Eric John Bonner, described as a grocer, aged 23, pleaded guilty to unlawfully converting to his own use the car valued at £265, the property of Allen William Howard Tilley.
Sub-Inspector Ward said that the car was taken from Courtenay place at 3.40 p.m., and at 5 p.m. it crashed into the New Plymouth express about two miles north of Paekakariki. The man who was driving the car ran away into the hills, but returned to the scene, and was accosted by the stationmaster. He gave an assumed name to the stationmaster, and also: to a constable, but when the latter asked for some proof of his identity the accused gave his correct name. He said he was not the driver of the car. He had.been given a ride in a motor-lorry as far as Packakariki, where h© had met two men in tho car, and they had asked him to go to "Wanganui with them. However, said the Sub-Inspector, the fireman of tho train and also a youth who was at the scene of the accident saw only one man in the car, and the boy said that the man driving the car had run up into the hills and hidden in some rushes. The car had been damaged to the extent of about £100 to £150.
In 1926 tho accused had been admitted to three years' probation on two charges of unlawful conversion of ears, and in 1927 he had had his probation extended for a year on three charges of theft. He had only recently married, and was at present unemployed. Mr. Virtue, who appeared for Bonner, reiterated the accused's explanation that there were two other men in the car, and that they had offered him a lift to Wanganui. Sub-Inspector Ward:' "His instructions to counsel are quite contrary to the evidence of eye-witnesses of the accident."
Bonner was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. "He doesn't seem to have learnt his lesson," remarked Mr. E. Page, S.M,
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19310325.2.110
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 71, 25 March 1931, Page 11
Word Count
367LESSON UNHEEDED Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 71, 25 March 1931, Page 11
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