CAR SET ON FIRE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 143, 19 June 1931, Page 8

CAR SET ON FIRE

PROBATION REFUSED

Probation was recommended by tho Probation Officer for Leonard Edward Swenson, aged 24, who appeared for sentence in the Supreme Court to-day on a charge of committing mischief by wilfully destroying a motor-car with intent to defraud, but Mr. Justice MaeGregor said it appeared to him to be ridiculous to adopt such a course. Swenson, who was represented by Mr. O. C. Mazengarb, was sentenced to twelve months' reformative detention.

Evidence was given by Charles Cleaver, farmer, of Mataroa, and Martin Swenson, an elder brother of the accused, of Swcnson's previous . good character. They said ho was a sober and industrious young man.

His Honour said it was out of the question to grant probation. Swcnson had purchased a motor»car on terms, and two days before the insurance policy was due to expire ho took it out on to some lonely road and set it on fire. Ho then made application to tho insurance company for £200 for the destruction of the car by accidental fire. He signed papers and gave as an explanation of the firo an explosion which took' place in some way ho had been unable to account for. Subsequently he appeared to have weakened, and made a statement to the police admitting that he set firo to tho car. His Honour said ho had no doubt Swenson was a highly industrious young man, but ho'had attempted to deliberately swindle tho insurance company, and it appeared to him that it was his plain duty to impose a term of imprisonment.