REMOVAL OF CARS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21552, 25 July 1933, Page 12

REMOVAL OF CARS

OFFENCES BY YOUTHS SERIES OF CHARGES "TAKEN NIGHT AFTER NIGHT" Arrested by Detective Packman following inquiries into tho unlawful use of a number of motor-ears in tho city and suburbs, three youths were charged before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, with converting vehicles to their own use between July 5 and July 16. Ten charges of conversion were preferred against Eric Gordon Dryland, aged 18, and nine against Alfred Ernest Annan, aged 19. Mr. Schramm entered pleas of guilty on behalf of both accused, and Oscar Ernest Fletcher, aged IS, who appeared on ono charge, also pleaded guilty. Tho value of the cars involved was £'l9Bo. "Dryland and Annan were associated in practically all the offences," stated Detective-Sergeant McHugh, ' hut, on one occasion, they took Fletcher with them." Mr. McHugh said the two youths principally concerned had not been in trouble before, but they suddenly commenced tho offences, and night after night they took cars and were a source of annoyance. One vehicle had been damaged to the extent of £l6. Fletcher was worthy of a chanco. The day after he began taking cars, Dryland, whose father was in Australia, left his home and had been sleeping in a woodshed. Annan was a member of a very respectable family. Both youths were out of work, and it could be said for them that they had assisted the polico to clear up the matter. Counsel stated that Annan and Dryland had behaved well in the past, and there was no reason for their offences. They had boon in custody a week, and counsel requested that as much leniency as possible should be shown. Fletcher was admitted to probation for two years, ihe magistrate saying that strict terms would be made. Dryland and Annan were remanded until to-morrow, the i 'agistrato saying he would hear from 'ie probation officer, Mr. W. J. Ca:. .-ball, before passing sentence.