SAILOR’S “MISTAKE”

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 August 1935, Page 2

SAILOR’S “MISTAKE”

MOTOR-VAN CONVERTED. Tracey Drinkwater, 23, a member of the’crew of the s.s. Kartigi, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court, Grey mouth, to-day, before Messrs. F. W. Shallcrass and N. V. Lovell, J.’sP. Had he lived up to his surname, last night, it is probable he would not have been charged that, at Cobden, he unlawfully ocnverted to his own use, but not so as to be guilty of theft within the meaning of tire Act, a motor-van valued at £lOO, the property of Samuel Stewart, butcher, Cobden. Accused pleaded guilty to taking the van, by accident. x , Senior-Sergeant E. Quayle stated that the van was left oh tire roadside, near the owner’s residence. Accused went to a dance at Cobden, last night, with some of his friends. The journey to Cobden was made in a motor-van, but accused, said that he did not know whose it was. He became separated from his mates. Shortly after 1 a.m„ Stewart hear# someone endeavouring to start his van. Accused was driving it, and, when called upon to stop, went back, and said he thought it was the van in which he had travelled to Cobden, and he was using it to raturn to Greymouth. He was somewhat muddled by drink. Constable Kearney was called, and he believed that, more or less, accused had made a mistake. Drinkwater said that he was under the influence of liquor, and it was purely a mistake, that he took Stewart’s van.

Mr. Shallcrass pointed out that it was a serious offence to convert a motor-vehicle. The Bench had decided to fine accused 10/-.