BROKE BARRACKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 90, 13 October 1939, Page 9

BROKE BARRACKS

TO CONVERT CAR

YOUTH SENT TO BORSTAL

Breaking barracks while on military service at Buckle Street, James Alexander Kennedy, aged 20, a clerk; and Malcolm Charles Ferguson, aged 21, a packer, unlawfully converted to their own use a car parked in Nelson Street, according to a police statement in the Magistrate's Court today, when both young men pleaded guilty to the charge of converting the car, valued at £305, the property of P. H. Brooks. ' . Kennedy, who was stated by the police to be on probation for a carconversion charge arising from an accident in which two young women were killed, also admitted two other charges of converting cars, one belonging to H. K. Emanuel and valued ati£43s, and the other valued at £165, the property of S. Bassin. He was sent to" a Borstal institution for two years, and Fergu-, son was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within twelve months. Detective-Sergeant P. Doyle said that Mr. Brooks parked his car^ in Nelson Street at 2 a.m. one day, leaving it locked. The two accused, who were on Army service at Buckle Street, broke barracks in the early hours'of the morning and went to the car. Kennedy got into it and operated'the ignition lock with a piece of wire. The two drove around the city in the car and then abandoned it in Hapua Road. That night Kennedy returned to the car again and drove it around until j the following morning before abandoning it in Hataitai. It had travelled 175 miles and was not damaged. ; Mr. Bassin had a yard in which he kept cars in York' Street, continued Mr. Doyle. At about 9 p.m. on September 15, Kennedy noticed a man leave the gate of the yard open and he went in and took \a car belonging to Mr. Bassin. The vehicle was abandoned undamaged. ;:■'.;■ Mr. Emanuel parked his car :m Luke's Lane at 8 p.m. on October 7, said Mr. Doyle. The doors, were left unlocked and the ignition was locked, but there was a duplicate key "on the dashboard, and, using it s Kennedy took the car, abandoning it in Hapua Road after driving it. around the city for 60 miles: Damage was done to the car to the extent of £4 45,; a bumper being broken, doors being scratched, and the inside of the car being strewn with fish and chips; and | beer dregs. v "Kennedy is making his ninth-ap-pearance before a Court for offences mostly of this nature," said Mr. Doyle. "On May 1, for converting a motor vehicle, he was placed on probation for three years, and in that escapade two young girls lost their lives while in the company of the accused; in-the vehicle." Mr. J. A. Scott, who appeared for Kennedy, pointed but that- Kennedy had stood his trial for that incident, and the. Magistrate had dismissed the j charge. j "MENACE TO THE COMMUNITY." J Mr. Doyle said that apparently, Kennedy had not appreciated'the leniency shown to him when he was granted probation, because since then his conduct had been entirely unsatisfactory- He had joined the Army, but the military authorities also found him unsatisfactory. Mr. Doyle suggested that Kennedy should be placed in an institution for disciplining. He did. not realise his responsibilities to other people's property,, and while he was at large he was a definite menace to the community. Ferguson had been before the Court in February, said Mr. Doyle,, on a charge of unlawfully converting a motor-cycle, and he was placed on probation for a year. He,, also apparently did not appreciate the leniency extended to him, but his military conduct was such that the Army authorities.were prepared to give him another chance. Mr. T. P. McCarthy,, making a plea that Ferguson be not imprisoned, said that he was not a criminal, but was actuated by a sense of - recklessness and irresponsibility. Counsel submitted that Ferguson should not, be imprisoned, as that would prevent him from turning to good accqunt those qualities which might not make for good citizenship but had in the past made good soldiers. Mr. Scott said that the majority of Kennedy's offences had been committed when he was very young and the charges had been brought against him in the Children's Court;' After his last appearance in Court. he had gone to the country v and worked well until the homestead of his • employer- was burned down and he had to return to the city, which had a bad influence on him. This particular class of offence appeared to be hiis only, trouble. It isn't news today to hear that a motor-car is- missing, .writes "The Post's" Wanganui correspondent, " but the absence of a horse arid trap is certainly unusual. :At a weekly sale at Wanganui a horse and trap were taken from Messrs. Freeman. R. Jackson's saleyards and are still missing.