CONVERSION OF CAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21845, 6 July 1934, Page 15

CONVERSION OF CAR

PAHNELL PAHK ACCIDENT ONE MAN IMPRISONED OTHER REMANDED FOR REPORT The two young moil, Soloman Mundy, and Thomas Stanley Hollier, who were apprehended by residents after the crash of a ,car into the Parnell Park gates on Saturday evening, appeared in the police Court yesterday, charged with converting.to their own use a ear valued at £l'2s, the property of Donald Vernon Gatenby. Mundy. who is a Maori labourer, aged S3, and Hollier, who is a lanndrvhand, aged 18, were also charged with attempting to convert to their own useon the same date a canvalued at £l5O, the property of, Dr. J. W. Maskell, and with stealing a leather attache case containing medical instruments and dressings, valued at £2 7s 6d. Hollier. who was represented by Mr. Northcroft, admitted all the charges, but Mundy, for whom Mr. Noble appeared, pleaded not guilty to the charge of theft, admitting the other two. Sub-Inspector Edwards said that Dr. Maskell left his car in his garage at about 5 p.m. on Saturday. When he went to start/it at 8.30 p.m., lie found that someone had been interfering with it. The starting key was broken in the lock, ,-A>id a bag of instruments left in-tjje car was missing. At about 7.15 p.m. Constable Rroadlev arrested the two accused at the entrance to Parnell Park where they, had been detained by residents who' had become suspicious concerning their actions after an accident to a car. This vehicle was later found to be one that had been unlawfully removed from Grafton Road where its owner had parked it earlier in the evening. Tlio attache case belonging to Dr. Maskell was found in the car. • Detective Packman read a statement in which Mundy said he had met Hollier on Saturday afternoon. They drank together until six o'clock and then walked down Khyber Pass. Hollier went into an open garage and tried to start a car, but could not. They then went to Grafton Road, where Hollier started a car that was parked there, and drove it to Parnell Park.

Appealing for leniency for Hollier, Mr. Northcroft said he came of a decent family, and the boy himself was a hard worker. His acquaintance with Mundy had be'en of only a casual nature, and it was only reasonable to suppose that the man, who was 15 years older, had led Hollier into trouble. He had certainly encouraged him to take tlie liquor. The theft charge against Mundy was dismissed, but he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment on the charges of car conversion. Hollier was remanded in custody until Monday, pending the receipt of a report from the probation officerr