POLICE PURSUIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23333, 29 April 1939, Page 15

POLICE PURSUIT

THREE MEN IN CAE WELLINGTON INCIDENT REMAND ON BURGLARY CHARGES [BT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Friday How a motor-car, alleged to have been converted, was driven at a high speed through Wellington streets last night while pursued by a taxi containing two police constables, was told in the Magistrate's Court in Wellington to-day, when three men appeared before Mr. J. "H. Luxford, S.M., charged with breaking and entering and theft. Leonard Neiling, labourer, aged 26, Kenneth Jory Reeves, labourer, aged 20, and Bernard Holmes, labourer, aged 29, were charged witl)£j breaking and entering the store of Johnston and Company, Island Bay, on April 27, and committing theft. Neiling and Reeves were charged also with unlawfully converting a motor-car valued £IOO, the property of Gordon Stewart Traill.

On the application of DetectiveSergeant P. Doyle, the accused were remanded to appear in Wellington again on May 5. While on duty in Constable Street last night, Constable T. J. Miles saw a motor-car with only one headlamp burning, said DetectiveSergeant Doyle. Later in the night the constable again saw this car, but at the time knew nothing,of the alleged conversion. He received this information on returning to the Wellington South police station and in company with Constable A. Ansell, went to intercept the car. They acted on the assumption that the car would return from Island Bay, but when it appeared in Adelaide Road the constables were unable to stop it. They hired a taxi and gave chase immediately. It was alleged that the car travelled through city streets at a high speed and on occasions tried to run the taxi off the road. It was alleged also that articles were thrown at the driver of the taxi.

The chase was continued to Petone, said Deteitive-Sergeant Doyle, and one man jumped out, but the taxi-driver succeeded in heading the other car on to the road leading to Eastbourne. The police followed the wanted car until it reached Eastbourne and entered a blind road. Neiling and Reeves were arrested and a large quantity of property alleged to have been stolen was found in the car. Holmes was arrested later in the night by Detective R. Tripney.