CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21197, 1 December 1930, Page 4

CITY POLICE COURT.

Saturday, November 29, (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. ' A first offender charged with drunken-ness,-who was stated to have fallen into the harbour, was fined 20s, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment. ; CONVERSION OP MOTOR CARS. A youth, I7i years of age, for whom Mr E. J. Anderson appeared, pleaded guilty to .four charges of converting motor cars to his own use, and a charge of driving without a license.—Mr Anderson handed in reports’ by two doctors and' a clergyman, and suggested that after reading them his Worship might refer the case to the Children’s Court.—"ls this his sole delinquency?” asked the magistrate.—" So far as we know,” replied Chief Detective Cameron. A detective had endeavoured to obtain from the accused a statement whether he was alone when the offences were committed, and what had caused him to take the care. The boy had declined to answer, and unfortunately his father had interfered, and stated that he would take the responsibility himself. His Worship would agree that that was a foolish thing to do. There had been quite an epidemic of car steal-ing-in Maori Hill in the last two months and a-half, and many cars had been abandoned in Maori Hill. and Roslyn after having been driven a considerable distance. On the occasion on which he was arrested the youth took a,car and drove into the city in the hope of seeing the car, and noticed it being driven down York place. On feeing it later in St. > Andrew street he jumped, on the running 1 board, and the youth accelerated across George street, bringing the car to a standstill halfway across a footpath, and narrowly avoiding another car. He took to his heels, but was caught. There was no doubt about his irresponsibility. Ho told his parents that he was going- to a church , club, hut instead went to', a skating rink, later taking a car from outside M'Glashan College.—-His Worship said that the youth had suffered a head injury some time ago, and the reports stated that this had led to irresponsibility. He was somejyhat sceptical about the case. A head injury often led to a marked change, and one report stated that in this case it had led to the irresponsibility of a younger boy. The offences showed the opposite, for they were precocious. His Worship added that he required further reports, and the case would be referred to the Children’s Court next week if the youth submitted himself to observation by the police surgeon—Mr Anderson agreed to thatccuvse.