POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 25926, 18 October 1946, Page 8

POLICE COURT

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18

(Before Mr J. D. Willis, S.M.) “ Now is the time for you both to take advantage of the leniency 1 am extending to you,” said the Magistrate, when lie admitted Edward James Sounness and John Tyrrell Cusack to two years’ probation on a charge of stealing a wheel, tyre, and tube and other articles of a total .value of £l7 17s Gd from a car belonging to. a Dunedin rental firm. The condition of their release on' probation was that they both took out a prohibition order. Mr Willis added that he agreed with the probation officer’s remarks that the youths were in-danger, of becoming larrikins because of taking liquor. Chief-detective T. Y. Hall said that the accused had attended a dance at the St. Kilda Town Hall on the night of October 16, and after having a meal at the pie cart had walked along George street. They found the rental car parked in George street between Frederick street and Albany street, and had opened the back door and found the key to the luggage compartment. After removing the wheel and other articles they had been apprehended by a constable. Sounness said he had been using a car and had had a puncture They, ran away, but when they were caught they. both appeared sober. All the property had been recovered.

“ This sort of offence is becoming prevalent throughout New. Zealand,” concluded Mr Hall, “ and is becoming increasingly hard to detect.” Mr C. H. Stevens, who appeared for Sounness, said that, although liis client was only 21, he had saved enough money to set himself up in his own business His past record was excellent. ' Their act had been one of folly and stupidity. Mr A. G. Neill, who represented Sounness, said that the defendant had taken to strong drink since his return from overseas service with the Air Force. It had been suggested to his client that he should take, work in the country, and he was going to a job a farm. OBSCENE EXPOSURE. A man whose name was suppressed in the meantime appeared on, a. charge of obscene exposure in the public baths, and was remanded until October 23. Bail was allowed in one surety of £25. Mr C. H. Stevens appeared for the accused. DEFAULT OF MAINTENANCE. Thomas Walter Page Trainor, who was £36 17s in arrears on a maintenance order, -was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended 'as long as the dedendant paid 30s a -week off the current maintenance, and 10s: a week off the arrears.