"JOY-RIDING”

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12528, 18 August 1926, Page 4

"JOY-RIDING”

FIVE YOUTHS BEFORE COURT SEQUEL TO ‘ BORROWED” CARS REMANDED FOR SENTENCE The sequel to the epidemic of “joyriding” which has been so prevalent in the city of late was provided in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when five youths, ranging in age from 18 to 30 years, pleaded guilty to charges of the unlawful conversion of motorcars. “This offence of removing cars from parking stands in the city is be coining increasingly prevalent, and some of the cars taken have been severely damaged,” remarked Chief-De-tective Ward, in regard to the cases of Basil Frederick Baillie, a tiler, aged 18, who admitted ten charges of unlawfully converting motor-cars to his own use, and Robert Seymour James, a steward aged 18, who pleaded guilty to nine similar charges. Chief-Detective Ward stated that cars were removed between July 26th and August 16th. The accused were in the habit of taking them from parking stands, and driving around the city. Mr E. Page, S.M., intimated that both accused would be remanded for sentence until Thursday, pending reports from Mr C. T. Mills, tlie probation officer. CAR DAMAGED AND ABANDONED William Joe Condon, a grocer, aged 18, Leonard John William Troy, a porter, aged 18, and Eric John Bonner, a grocer’s assistant, aged 19, also appeared before Mr E. Page, S.M., pleading guilty to a charge of converting to their own use, but not so as to be guilty of theft, a motorcar valued at £3OB, belonging to Thomas Coltman. Bonner and Troy also pleaded guilty to a similar charge in respect of a motor-car valued at £l2O, the property of Walter Charles Cooper. Troy also admitted stealing a watch valued at £1 15s, the property of Cooper. On August 7th, the three accused took Coltman’s car and went “joyriding” round the city, said Chief-De-tective Ward. Proceeding along the Evans Bay road they collided with a telegraph post, damaging the car to the extent of £2o£). They then abandoned the car and returned to the city, where Bonner and Troy “borrowed” another car. This car was also subsequently abandoned, and a watch was taken which was later found in the possession of. the accused Troy. Troy had been before the court in 1921, on two charges of breaking and entering and theft, and in 1924 was fined 10s for a breach of the Defence Act. For a similar breach of the Act, Condon was also fined 10s in 1924. His Worship remanded the three youths until Thursday, pending Reports from the probation officer (Mr C. T. Mills).