CONVERSION OF CAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22695, 6 April 1937, Page 10

CONVERSION OF CAR

OFFENCE BY TWO MAORIS PROSECUTION AT KAITAIA [by TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] KAITAIA, Monday . " The accused Rameka is a tough young rascal and his plea of not guilty is an idle sentence and lias put this Court to a lot of bother," said Sergeant Claasen, in the Kaitaia Police Court to-day during a ease against Tom Rameka, a Maori, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of converting a motor-car to his own use. Accused, who was not represented by counsel, did not exercise his right to question any of the witnesses called and when asked by the Bench if he had anything' to say, stated that he was not giving away any information. Rameka, who had three previous convictions for similar offences, was convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment in Auckland gaol, followed by 12 months' probation. He was also ordered to pay half the cost of repairing the car that had been removed and had been found abandoned in a damaged condition. Henry Dudley, another native, aged 19, who was charged with the same offence, but who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment in the Kaitaia lock-up, followed by 12 months' probation* and ordered to pay half the cost of repairing the car. A condition of tho probation was that Dudley was to work on his father's farm during the period.

VEHICLE FROM NEW PLYMOUTH ACCUSED SENT TO PRISON [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Monday A plea of guilty was entered in the Hamilton Police Court to-day by James Kapinga McClutchie, aged 24, to a charge of converting a car, valued at £2OO, the property of W. W. Thomson, of New Plymouth, to his own use. Evidence was given that accused took the car from Devon Street, New Plymouth. on March 26, and drove to the Waikato that night. He was arrested next day at Frankton by Constable D. McLean.

Accused, who expressed regret for his action, was sentenced by the magistrate, Mr. S. L. Paterson, to two months' imprisonment.