YOUTHS' ESCAPADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23017, 20 April 1938, Page 14

YOUTHS' ESCAPADE

STOLEN CAR DAMAGED COLLISION IN COLLEGE HILL COURT GRANTS PROBATION Arising out of a motor collision in College Hill cm Saturday afternoon, two youths appeared in the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. P. K. Hunt, S.M., charged with the unlawful conversion of a motor-car valued at £2OO. The accused, Archie Patchett, garage attendant, aged 18. and Malcolm Smith, storeman, aged 18, pleaded not guilty. Patchett also denied a charge of being intoxicated in charge of the vehicle. Constable Fowler said ho was called to the scone of an accident, where a parked car had been struck by another car, both vehicles being damaged, No one was injured, and a woman, who was holding Smith, also pointed out Patchett, saying they were the occupants of tho car that caused the collision. Both accused were intoxicated, Patchett being dazed and in a kind of stupor. Witness added that Patchett told him he did not know who owned the car. Ho thought he got into it in Albert Street. He said Smith got into it first and asked him to follow to sit down for a while.

Estimate of Damage Frederick George Fitzgerald said he heard the crash, and on investigating saw the two accused get out of the car. Both wero protty drunk. Patchett was driving. Walter Bobert McMahon, owner of the car, said he left it parked and unlocked in Wyndham Street, just off Albert Street. He estimated the damage to his vehicle at £SO. Sub-Inspector Flanagan said the accused had been in custody since Saturday. A doctor certified Smith as being absolutely drunk, while Patchett was not so bad and ..knew what lie was doing. Warning by Magistrate In reply to the magistrate, both accused said they remembered nothing about their car ride. The probation officer said they told him they had never taken liquor before. They were companions, and visited tho city with the intention of going to the pictures. As they passed a hotel they decided to have a drink, and after that they visited several hotels. "1 could put you away until you were each 22 years of age if 1 chose," said the magistrate. "1 shall give you a chance this time, but you will have to behave yourselves in future." Both accused were admitted to probation lor two years, and ordered to make restitution of tho damage. Patchctt's driving licence was cancelled for six months.