CAR CONVERSIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 8, 7 December 1937, Page 2

CAR CONVERSIONS.

TOTAL OF 45 CHARGES. Per Press Association. AARELLINGTON, Dec. 6. * An “irresistible impulse’’ was advanced as the reason for the conversion of a large number of cars by two youths, who appeared in the Police Court to-day. Arthur Henry Norris, a storeman, aged 19, and Leslie Archie Norris, a storeman, aged 17, faced 45 different charges of car conversion, the offences taking place between July 16 and November 27. Accused pleaded guilty to all charges. DetectiveSergeant Doyle said that accused had been in the habit of running the cars into one another and a number had headlamps and , other accessories smashed, and the axles of the others had been bent The value'of the cars subject to the charges was £8641 and damage of the cars amounted to £476. Property to the value of £43 was missing from the cars. “The damage was done by_ running one car into another, or running them down banks, some of • them striking trees,” said the Detective-Sergeant. It seems beyond comprehension why they were not detected aarlier. All the cars were converted between 8 p.m and 10.30 p.m., and in 90 per cent of the cases the vehicles had been abandoned before the owners discovered their loss. Bv the time the matter was reported to the police the offenders were home in bed.”

AA’hen accused appeared previously before the Court it had been represented that they had taken 100 cars, but they were charged with 45 offences only. “All that 1 can say in their favour is that they have been the essence of frankness,” said the Detective-Ser-geant “The youngest boy, no doubt, has been led into these matters by the influence of his older brother.” Counsel for accused said that the elder brother had been the victim of some irresistible impulse. That was the impression he (counsel) had gathered. There wgs some basis for this impulse, which at the moment was beyond the comprehension of the ordinary layman. But for the, leadership of his brother the younger boy would not be standing in the dock. The Magistrate said he would impose sentence this afternoon.