CONVERSION OF CAR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 17, 18 December 1935, Page 2

CONVERSION OF CAR

SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day, before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., a young man, John-Robert Taylor, butcher and labourer, was. charged that, on December 14, ho had driven a motor car on the Palmerston North-W'anganui highway, not being the holder of a motor driver’s license. He was also charged that, on the same date, he had unlawfully and without colour of rights but not so as to be guilty of theft, converted a motor car to his own use.

Mr J. M. Gordon, who appeared for accused, entered a plea of guilty to both charges. Detective-Sergeant Biclcerdike explained that accused had gone to a garage with a letter purporting to have been written by his brother and in which the latter had promised to buy a car on accused’s behalf. He had been given a car on trial on the understanding that it was to be returned by 7 o’clock that night. However, accused had gone to Wanganui and had stayed the night there. Counsel stated that the facts were correct, but pleaded that the act had been that of a subnormal person. The Magistrate convicted and dismissed accused on the first charge, but sentenced him to two months’ imprisonment on the second. The case was the first one of its kind heard here since the amending legislation of last session, dealing with the conversion of cars, was passed.