TWO YEARS' GAOL

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 36, 11 August 1937, Page 13

TWO YEARS' GAOL

CONVERSION OF A CAR

A chase through Newtown by a motor-cyclist on the night of July 23 led to the appearance before Mr. .E. D. Mosley, S.M., of Thomas Henry Hale, labourer, aged 25. The accused pleaded not guilty to the unlawful conversion of a motor-car valued at £225.

Detective-Sergeant P. Doyle said that the car was the property of Theodore Morris Wood, grocer, who parked it outside his shop in Constable Street at about 6.30 p.m. The owner saw it being driven away later that evening, and it was subsequently found in Majoribanks Street in a damaged condition. The accused was arrested by Detective J. ,G. Long.

Theodore Morris Wood said that he ran into the street in time to see the car move, away and turn into Riddiford Street. He called out for the driver to stop, and then notified the police. When the car was recovered, the mudguards and a, hub-cap were dented, and the rear .light was smashed. The repairs cost £9 7s.

David Waddell Johnston said that at about 7.40 p.m. on July 23 he stopped his motor-cycle behind a tram-car in Constable Street. He drew up at the side of a parked car, which subsequently moved away with the tram. He saw the accused in the car. After it had left, he saw Wood run out of his shop. Witness's suspicions were aroused, and he followed the car into Daniell Street, where it stopped by Booth's timber BABY CAR STRUCK. Witness saw a baby car try to park in front of the converted car, but the latter started again, came up on the baby car's wrong side;'and struck it on the'bumper, knocking it out of the way. The speed-of the converted car was fairly high most of the time..Witness had a fall from, his cycle .in..giving chase, but notified another. driver, who. went on after it. ; He subsequently identified the accused at'aii identification parade., y ' '' James Alfred Epsom said that about 7.45 p.m. he was pulling in: to park near' Booth's timber yards... When he was pulling in in; front of another car, the car started again, and pushed his car out into the road. It then went straight tip Daniell Street, followed by a motor-cycle arid another' car. Witness, had, a good view of the accused, and.had no trouble in identifying him from photographs shown him. by Detective Long. Witness's left- : headlamp was twisted round so that it shone on the accused's face.! -

Detective J. G. Long said' that the accused .was first picked out by the owner of the baby car from photographs: on July-28. At a subsequent identification parade, the accused was also picked out without trouble, by Johnston 4 and Epsom, driver of the small car. v The accused had seven previous convictions for unlawful conversions. ' ' '.' .

The accused was sentenced to reformative detention for two years.