CONVERSION AND THEFT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21540, 11 July 1933, Page 12

CONVERSION AND THEFT

TWO MEN IN MOTOR-CAR PERIODS OF DETENTION [vr.OM OUR OWN COIUIKSPONUKNTJ HAMILTON, Monday Tho unlawful conversion of a motorcar to their own use was admitted by Gordon Horaco Fitzsimnions, aged 22, and Herbert Lloyd Denton, aged 22, before Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., in the. Hamilton Polico Court to-day. Tho accused also admitted stealing cigarettes and other articles valued at £2 13s, and benzine valued at £1 10s.

Senior-Sergeant Power said that on the night of July 1, tho accused took a car owned by Mr. E. C. Day from Ruakiwi Road, Hamilton. They went to a kiosk in tho Lake Domain and stole a quantity ot' cigarettes and chocolates. The accused drove to Katikati, where they stolo three tins of benzine owned by Mr. N. A. Blomquist.

Tho accused were arrested in Hamilton on July 4 by Constable Callaghan, continued tho senior-sergeant. Denton had been discharged from prison in June, and Eitzsiminons had escaped from a mental hospital, where lie had been sent on account of epileptic fits. Both men had criminal histories. Eitzsiminons said he did not want to bo returned to tho mental hospital, for ho felt that his association with tho inmates there was likely to affect his sanity.

Tho accused were each sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour for taking the car and to three months' imprisonment for stealing tho benzine, the sentences to be cumulative. For stealing the cigarettes and chocolates they were sentenced to six months' imprisonment, this sentence to be followed by reformative detention not exceeding two years.