TWO SEAMEN FINED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20539, 14 April 1930, Page 14

TWO SEAMEN FINED.

OFFENCES WITH HIRED CAR. PURSUIT IN PARK ROAD. The action of two seamen after hiring a motor-car resulted in their appearance before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court on Saturday, lloy Martin, aged 27, was charged with using threatening and insulting language and with tho negligent driving of a car on Grafton Bridge. His companion, Leslie Murray, aged 26, was charged with obtaining a tin of benzine and three packets of cigarettes by falsely representing that lie was the owner of a motor-car. Mr. Bryco Hart appeared for the accused, entering a. plea of guilty for Murray and not guilty on behalf of Martin. Arthur Neville Bull, a mechanic at a garage in Onehunga, said Murray had hired a car on the morning of March 3. it was to have been returned the same evening, but accused paid an additional sum to keep it until next morning. Tho car was not returned, but later in the day, when riding his motor-cycle, witness saw the car parked by tho roadside near the hospital. Martin was at tho wheel and Murray was sitting in the back.

Witness asked Martin to take tho car back to the garage, but was told that they were first going to Grey Lynn. Tho car then started off along Park Road at a great speed toward Grafton Bridge, and witness followed on his motorcycle. Ho drew love! with tho car on tho bridge, tho speed being over 20 miles an hour. Martin then used threatening and insulting language, and swerved tho car so that witness was forced against the kerb. At the end of the bridge witness sought tho assistance of a constable, but in the meantime tho car disappeared. Detective-Sergeant Kelly said both men were well-known. Murray had secured the petrol-by giving another name, and by saying that he owned a motor-car. " Martin had no right to drive af, all," said the magistrate. "Ho did not hire the car."

Martin was fined £5, in default 14 days' imprisonment, on the first charge and was convicted and'discharged on the second, while Murray was lined £4 and ordered to make restitution.