THEFT OF CARS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22100, 2 November 1933, Page 10

THEFT OF CARS

WO MEN ' SENTENCED COMMENT BY JUDGE. (Feb United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 1. "I do not, of course, propose to take into account the agitation regarding the theft of care,” said Mr Justice Smith in the Supreme Court when two young men appeared for sentence for having stolen a motor car. The comment arose from a statement made by Mr Noble, counsel for the prisoners, Clement Robert Lawson and Thomas Edward Walsh, who had been found guilty of stealing a motor car owned by Andrew Caughey. It was stated at the trial that the car had been taken in Auckland and driven to Wellington. Mr Noble said he knew his Honor would take no notice of -the tremendous agitation going on at present with regard to the theft of motor cars. Lawson came out of the Borstal Institution last December. Counsel said he did not think he was a criminal. Walsh could not drive' a car, and was merely a party to the offence. Both were receiving sentences for offences committed on their expedition with the‘car. His Honor said the jury was quite justified in finding that the prisoners intended to steal the car. The motor car was a valuable piece of property, and as a result of the prisoners’ use it had depreciated in value by £2OO. He did not, of course, propose to take into account the knowledge he had that cars were converted for/ the time being, if not often stolen. Counsel had quite rightly etnphasised the individual aspect, said the judge, but he could not overlook the effect on the public interests of the offence of which the prisoners had been found guilty. There was no doubt that Lawson led Walsh. Lawson was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, and Walsh to 12 months. The terms in each case were cumulative upon the sentence each was now serving.