"TOO PREVALENT"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17174, 3 February 1930, Page 6

"TOO PREVALENT"

CONVERSION OF CARS YOUNG MAN IMPRISONED '' The accused has pleaded guilty to a charge which*is becoming altogether too prevalent everywhere," said Mr. P. H. Harper, S.M., in the Police Court this morning when Alfred Arthur Gurney pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully- convening to his own use at Napier on December 22 a car belonging to Harry Biddlo. The accused was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labor.

Detective McLcod explained that with a youth Gurney went to the back of bakery premis.es in Napier and re-' moved the car. They drove about in it for two or three hours and then returned it undamaged, The accused had been beforo tho magistrate" recently when he was sentenced to threo months' imprisonment for being a rogue and :1 vagabond. In pleading tor leniency on behalf of the accused, Mr. 8. V. Beaufoy. said it 'was unfortunate that such a young man should have so formidablo a list of convictions. In this case he had frankly admitted the offence, and had not put tnc country to expense by pleading not guilty. Apparently he was led into this offence. Detective McLcod: So far from being led into it, tho youth who accompanied him was only 14. The magistrate: The accused has pleaded guilty to a charge which is becoming altogether too prevalent everywhere. It sec its that no ono is safe in leaving a car in the street unless it is securely locked or has someone watching over it. This ease is over worse, for the car was removed from private property. The accused has a very bad record, and the only thing I can do is to sentence him to a term of imprisonment. He will bo sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labor, to be served at the expiration of his present term.