MANIA FOR MOTORS

Evening Star, Issue 19175, 16 February 1926, Page 5

MANIA FOR MOTORS

YOUNG CLERK'S FAILING

PROBATION GRANTED

[Special to the ‘Stak.’] CHRISTCHURCH, February 15. Harold Hogwood, the young clerk who had been described ns “having motor cars on the brain,” was to-day admitted to probation for three years. He had stolen a car belonging to Mr 11. M. Watson.

Mr Justice Adams said the caso had given him considerable anxiety. Hogwood’s reputation, apart from that crime, was exemplary. He had been to some extent struggling against adversity. Although he had had very few advantages, he had been an exemplary student, and Mr L. A. Stringer, registrar of Canterbury College, had spoken highly of him. Probation was the proper course in the interests of the community, as well as in prisoner’s interests. Hogwood was ordered to pay the costs of the damage to the car (£ls) and the costs of the prosecution £6 14s), in instalments to be fixed by the probation officer. It was stated in court last week that Hogwood had motor cars on the brain, but that he was an efficient and trustworthy clerk in the office of the Canterbury College, where he was employed for several years. Some of the professors at the college interested themselves in Hogwood, and it wa? stated that if he were admitted to probation he could get a job in the country, where ho could satisfy his obsession by driving a tractor.