CAR DOWN A BANK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23222, 16 December 1938, Page 12

CAR DOWN A BANK

VEHICLE ILLEGALLY TAKEN PRISON TERM FOR LABOURER [BY TELKGKAPH —OWN COIIRKSPONDENx] PUTARURU, Thursday A labourer, Walter John Butters, of Tirau, will spend Christmas in gaol as a result of- an escapade with a motorear not his own, which occurred in Putaruru on Tuesday night.. The car was found yesterday morning down a 20ft. bank. Butters appeared in the Putaruru Police Court charged with unlawfully converting to bis own use a motor-car owned by Mrs. E. A. Little hales, of Putaruru. also with driving a car without .a driver's licence. Constable T. J. Cotter said accused, who pleaded guilty to both charges, had been given the keys of the car by a son oi' the owner so that he could unlock it and shelter from the rain. The incident occurred outside a dance hall when a dance was in progress. The car was later found to be missing. Accused, who had at first denied all knowledge of the car's disappearance, afterward said he had driven nway from the hall and the engine had stalled when ho was attempting to change gear up a hill. The car had then run backward, somersaulting over a bank. Repairs would cost £6O. On the first charge Butters was sen teneed to 21 days' imprisonment with hard labour and on the second charge ho was convicted and discharged.