STOLEN MOTOR – CAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18459, 24 July 1923, Page 9

STOLEN MOTOR - CAR.

YOUNG MAN: FOR SENTENCE. BURGLARY: AT KOHIMARAMA. BICYCLES APPROPRIATED. Two indictable offences were admitted by John Buckley, aged 20, at the Police Court yesterday before Mr." J. W. Poynton. S.M. Accused pleaded guilty to stealing, on July 2, a motor-car, valued at £280, the property of Edwin Sayes, ; and to breaking into the dwallinghouse of Rachel Basten, at Kohimarama, and stealing articles valued at £7. Detective Mcfiugh read statements signed by Buckley, who said that about a month ago he'came from Taumarunui, where he was in business as a painter. .I«i that, township he had become familiar with two domestics at a boardinghouse. whom the proprietress had dismissed, as well as ordering him out. Both girls accompanied him by the midnicht train to Hamilton, putting up at a boardinghouse there. His finances becoming low, Buckley pawned his overcoat, but realising the need of it owing to the cold weather, he redeemed it from the proceeds of the sale of a stolen bicycle, which he transferred to an auctioneer for £3. • , Several Garages Visited. I Buckley then came to Auckland and met |an acquaintance named Rynold Pittam. Hie -latter told him that he knew of a tobacconist's shop which he could break into. , The attempt made by Pittam, however, to get in from the back, , while he kept watch, was fruitless. Next day Pittam ' suggested that they should do some "big job." and > get away in a launch. Accused considered a motor more suitable for the purpose, and a few Remuera garages were inspected at night, all being locked except one. From this garage Pittam took the switch-key of the car, and a tin of chisels, ;■ which he discerned by the aid of his flash-torch. Returning to the city, they proceeded to the corner of Victoria and Albert Streets, where Pittam endeavoured to force open the door of a shop, but did not succeed, and threw the chisels over a wall, in case three policemen "who were near *he spot should question them. The next evening Buckley took a "Chev rdet" motor-car, which was standing in Albert: Street, drove it away, with h's Companion as a passenger, hiding it in the Domain. The name and registered number were subsequently removed, and another number substituted, which Buckley painted on after removing the car to the top of Mount Eden. . They then drove around Mount Albert back to the city, leaving the car in Wellesley Street.

Stuck in Mud at Raagiriri. Walking to Khyber Pass they visited the residence of Pittam's father, who was at home, and so his companion could not pet the money there as he intended. While Pittam was still with his father, Buckley went back to the car and drove to Rangiriri, travelling most, of the night and early the next morning.' Aftr getting stuck in the mud there, he returned to the city, leaving the car at Point Chevalier. When, however, he saw that a reward was offered it was removed to a side track in the Domain, wher6 it was. found later. On July 5, continued Buckley, he went in the car to Kohimarama, where he entered the dwellinghoyse of Mrs. Basten by forcing open a window. He searched the place, taking articles valued at. £7, including rugs and gramophone records, which he disposed of to second-hand shops m the city. Edwin Sayes in his evidence, stated that his , car had been damaged! to the extent of £25. '■ . Buckley also pleaded guilty 13 the theft ot a bicycle at Hamilton and another J at Newmarket, both of which were sold by him, and sentence was deferred till after the Supreme Court dealt with the previous cases. Pittam, aged 22, who stated that Rynold Pittam, aged 22, who stated that he met the previous accused, Buckley, at the Borstal Institute, Invercargill, pleaded guilty to charges of breaking and entering the draper's shop of James Trubulovich, at Parnell, and of stealing various articles valued at 9s from the launch of J. W. Dodds. He also was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, and convicted and discharged for the theft of four chisels, valued at 10s, belonging to F. «i. Hazard* ' .