MIDNIGHT ESCAPADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18678, 7 April 1924, Page 11

MIDNIGHT ESCAPADE.

YOUTHS AND MOTOR-CAR. ; ■■. • ' ALL COMMITTED FOR TRIAL The sequel to the disappearance of a motor-car from a garage in Ghuznee Street, Wellington, recently led to the appearance at the Magistrate's Court in i Wellington of three youths, named Charles Hugo Johnston, George Wilfred Ryan and Gordon Williarn Johnston. Hie': accused were also charged with ' the theft of a number of travellers' samples, valued at £25, which, together j with the car, were the I property !; of J Sargood, Son and . Ewen. ; . George William James, a commercial I traveller employed by Sargood, Son and | Ewen, stated that he had used the firm's Dodge car for a -number of years. v; The car was vin the firm's garage on March 19' at 7 p.m., \ Next "morning^ at eight o'clock the car was discovered 1 to" be missing, together with a' quantity of travellers'- 'samples. '• Witness identified the'samples produced in court. I In reply to a question from Chief-j Detective Kemp, i witness said there 1 was sufficient § benzine in the car to allow it to .'travel about 160 miles. '.. > . };-|Acti^ Walker deposed to having obtained : signed : statements i from the accused. ' ' Gordon William ""Johnston,' in his statement, said that he took the car at. about .midnight, after a" dance. Ryan also admitted - taking; the ; car after ' I the dance. After removing the car from i the garage they / called for Charles Hugo Johnston at his house, at three o'clock in the morning. | * He was iin : bed when they called, t but' quickly dressed himself and , joined them. . They , took the' car) to Palmerston North and - were later A arrested at Waitara. Ryan had r nothing dto &say,'j but later, said he had no intention of stealing the car. I The three accused reserved their defence ,(and werei committed to v -ithi»;l : Supreme Court j for trial." Bail was allowed in one surety of £100 or two of £50.' v ..: i •;»' 1' * A charge against Johnston tr of unlawfully converting motor-car to his own use was adjourned sine die.