CONVERSION OF CAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21324, 27 October 1932, Page 14

CONVERSION OF CAR

"A DRUNKEN PRANK" MEN REMANDED FOR SENTENCE "A man who owns a car must be given protection against interference with it," said Detective-Sergeant Kelly in the Police Court yesterday, when Arthur Purvis Smith, aged 23, seaman, and Paul Callaghan, aged 21, clerk, were jointly charged with converting to their own use a motor-car, valued-at £l5O, the property of J. J. Niven and Company. Smith was also charged with being found intoxicated while in charge of a car. Accused, who were represented by Mr. Aekins, pleaded not guilty. Ernest Frederick Spencc, a salesman employed by J. J. Niven and Company, said he had left his car outside his firm's premises, with the gears engaged and the hand-brake on. The car could not be locked. T\yo witnesses gave evidence that the two accused, after looking around, had climbed into tho car, which had then run backwards about 20 or 30 yards and mounted the footpath, 'lhe two men had then pushed the car back on to the r.oad and left it. Witnesses informed the police, who made two arrests. In order to take tho car and the two suspects to the Queen's Wharf police station, constables put tho men in the car and then pushed it to the station. Mr. Aekins then amended his plea to guilty on all charges. "I wished to bring out tho evidence and show that the offence was just a drunken prank," he said. Accused were remanded for sentence until this morning to enable the probation officer, Mr. .W. J. Campbell, to mako inquiries.