THEFT OF MOTOR CAR

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 2 November 1933, Page 4

THEFT OF MOTOR CAR

TWO MEN SENTENCED VEHICLE DEPRECIATED £2CO. (By Telegraph—Cress Association.) AUCKLAND, Nov. 1. “I do not, of course, propose to take into account the agitation regarding the theft of cars,” said Mr. Justice Smith iu the Supreme Court when two young men appeared for sentence for having stolen a motor-car. Tho comment arose from a statement made by counsel.

The prisoners, Clement Robert Lawson and Thomas Edward Walsh, who were represented by Mr. Noble, had been found guilty of stealing a motorcar owned by Andrew Gaughey. It was stated at the trial that the car had been taken at Auckland and driven to Wellington. Mr. Noble said he knew his Honour would take no notice of the tremendous agitation going on at present with regard to the theft of motor-cars. Lawson came out of a Borstal institution last December, but counsel did not think he was a. criminal. Walsh could not drive a car and was merely a party to the offence. Both were receiving sentences for ’offences committed on their expedition with the car The judge said tne jury was quite justified in finding that they intended to steal the ear. A motor-car was a valuable piece of property. As a result of the prisoners’ use of the car it depreciated in value by 4)200. He did not, of course, propose to take into account the knowledge be had that cars were converted for the time being if they were not often stolen. Counsel had quite rightly emphasised the individual aspect, said the judge, but he could not overlook the effect on public interests of the offence of which they had been found guilty. There was no doubt that Lawson led Walsh. , , Lawson was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and ’Walsh to 12 months. The terms in each case were cumulative upon the sentence each was now serving.