SEVEN YOUTHS BEFORE COURT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 25 November 1938, Page 8

SEVEN YOUTHS BEFORE COURT

_ •I CAR CONVERSION AND THEFT e I (Jutted Press Association! e , AUCKLAND, 24th November. k Theft an.f unlawful conveiaum of 10 d motor rata and two mofor-ty. lea of a to. tal value of AT lib. in addition to tlielt of 1 pails and ollie r pnipri(y front \annua k, vehitlea worth AfaO 18s 0.1, were referred . to in 2d eltargea preferred aKaillat aetrn 1 I youth. wfto appealed before Mr Orr i> Ualker. S.M.. in llie Magistrate*' Court ' They all pleaded guilty to all counts and i- were committed for sentence. s l Accused were Thomas Arnold Massy . 1 Sotisom, grocer, aged 22, who was nam--1 e i in 22 charges ; (iarth Vincent Hughes, j truck driver, aged 17, lb charges; Allan I' laiK is Regdn, car painter, aged 18, 17 ' charges; Daniel l’itcathley Calder, eler- | tiician. aged 18, three charges; .lamea John Rohertson, baker's apprentice, *ge4 17, two charges; Albert fcdward Butler, I motor trimmer, aged 19, two charges* j Allan Kongo Ross, salesman, aged 19, one charge. All but four of the charges were joint. 1/ preferred, there being three separate charges against Hughes and one against Regan. The evidence showed that most of the offences occurred at night or in the early morning hours, and the vehicles were takei from garages as well as from their parking positions in the street. Some were driven long distances and not located for many days. In 11 eases vehicles were found stripped of parts and accessories such as radio, battery, gear box, carburettor, vacuum tank, manifold oil pump, tools, tyres and spate wheels. Clothing J and a travelling rug were stolen from two of the cars. Statements made by the various accused showed that in one case a motorcycle was stolen and dismantled, after which the frame and engine were placed o nthe running board of a car and taken to Ponsonby Wharf, where they were thrown into the harbour. Hearing of their being found by the police, tho accused concerned bundled the rest of the cycle parts into a car and carried them to the Orakei bridge, where they were dumped into the water. Refusing to make an order for the nonpublication of the names of accused, the magistrate said it wm not • <aae m he would make an order even if be had power to do so. The Statute, however, ga\e him no power in this case.