CAR CONVERSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25458, 12 February 1944, Page 2

CAR CONVERSION

ACCUSED REMANDED FOR SENTENCE In the City Police Court yesterday Harold Henry McLean, a labourer, aged 26 and Clement James Clark, labourer, aged 24, pleaded guilty before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., to a charge of having illegally converted to their own use a motor V "senior Detective T. Y. Hall said that the two accused had been drinking and had taken a car from a city street. They drove it to Tomahawk before it ran out of petrol. On the journey they collided with a telegraph pole, and the car was damaged to the extent of £2 15s. Six bottles of beer were in the car which they took, and the accused had drunk four bottles and Clark had taken away a fifth. McLean, who had no driver’s licence, had driven the vehicle, Clark could not drive. Mr W. McAlevey, who appeared for McLean, said that the defendant was receiving treatment for a nervous complaint following shell-shock in the present war. McLean had admitted the offence, and had accepted full responsibility for what he now knew to have been a foolish act. The attention of the court was drawn by Mr O. G. Stevens to the fact that Clark was a man who could no doubt be easily led. The accused were remanded until Monday.