SERIES OF CRIMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23442, 5 March 1938, Page 2

SERIES OF CRIMES

YOUNG MAN CHARGED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL GAOL FOR CAR CONVERSION

The hearing of one charge of breaking and entering and theft and three charges of attempting breaking and entering with intent to commit crimes against Edward Farris, aged 22, was concluded in the City Police Court before Mr H. W Bundle, S.M., yesterday. Farris, who was represented by Mr O. G. Stevens, pleaded not guilty to all charges and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. He was also dealt with summarily on charges of converting a motor car to his own use, on which charge he was found guilty and sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment, and of being an unlicensed driver. Chief Detective Young conducted the prosecution. The charges against Farris were that on January 24 he attempted to break and enter the shop of Cyril Harrison Jamieson with intent to commit a crime therein: that on January 24 he broke and entered .a shoo of the Self-Help Co-op. Ltd., and committed a crime therein; that on January 24, with Sydney Joseph Samways and Ralph Thomas Webb, he broke and entered the shop of Cyril Richardson Joll and committed theft; and that on January 24 he attempted to break and enter the shop of Herbert Houghland Croft with intent to commit a crime therein. He was also charged with converting a car to his own use. to which he pleaded not guilty, and with being an unlicensed driver, to which he pleaded guilty. Evidence was given by. Sydney Joseph Samways, who said that he was at present serving a term of imprisonment for offences committed on the night of January 24. He corroborated the evidence of a previous witness, Ralph Thomas Webb, describing a tour late on the night of January 24 and in the early hours of the following morning, and naming Webb and Farris as his companions in the series of breaking and entering and attested breaking and entering escapades. To Mr Stevens, the witness said that he had reason to feel revengeful toward Farris. Detective J. Marsh said that he examined a rental car on January 25 and found a cigarette wrapper in it. He interviewed the accused on January 31. Farris denied, any part in the alleged offences, but he said that he had been with Webb until 10.30 o'clock on the night of January 24 and that he had given Webb 15s for the hire of the car. He said he could produce an alibi for the night after 10.30 o'clock. He then went to the detectives' office and made a statement. To Mr. Stevens, witness said that he had found none of the stolen goods in Farris's home. In all of his statements to the police Samways had implicated Farris. Farris pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. t Conversion of Car In the charges relating to the conversion of a motor car, Farris was associated with Leon Cedric Goldsmid, who also was charged with being an unlicensed driver, and converting a car to his own use. He was charged further with a breach of a probation order. Mr Stevens "appeared for Goldsmid as well as for Farris.

Chief-detective Young said that at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 19, the complainant left his car parked outside Speight's Brewery in Maclaggan street. When he went for it at about 6 p.m., the car was missing. He reported the fact to the police, and then, about 6.55 o'clock he saw the car again in Maclaggan street and a minute or two later it was driven past him by Farris with Goldsmid as a passenger. The car was driven into a service station, where the complainant, a friend and a constable found it in the charge of Farris and Goldsmid. Both the accused asked the complainant not to press a charge, and offered to pay for damage done to the car. It had been extensively knocked about and the cost of the repairs was £8 10s. Farris was a prohibited driver and was unable to get a licence until 1940, and Goldsmid did not have a licence.

Evidence was given by John Henry Williams, of Tomahawk, that he left his car, found it missing, reported it to the police, and then saw Farris and Goldsmid with it and later driving it. When they were accosted, they both tried to persuade him to "drop the charge." The cost of repairs to the car was now estimated at about £22. He had given no permission to use the car.

Corroborative evidence was given by Raymond King, Michael King, and Constable Claridge. When the accused were approached in the service station, Constable Claridge said, Farris's story was that he knew who had taken the car, but would not say anything in case he should incriminate this other person. He and Goldsmid had seen the car parked with a flat tyre and, Farris said, out of motives friendship they had pushed it in to the station to have the puncture repaired. Sergeant Cooper produced a statement by Goldsmid, who said that Farris had asked him to go a drive in a car which had been lent to him. He understood it was a borrowed car.

The prosecution produced a statement in which Farris explanation he had given to Constable Claridge. Evidence was given by Farris along the same lines. He said .hat he told Goldsmid that r- had the loan of a car.—Goldsmid gave evidence that he did not suspect that the car was not borrowed.

On the charges of conversion, Farris was sentenced to six weeks imprisonment, and Goldsmid was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months. Both were convicted and discharged for being unlicensed drivers, and the charge against Goldsmid of breaking the conditions of a probation order was adjourned.